Lewis Hamilton has said he has “unfinished business” in describing his motivation to continue to race in Formula One for another two years. The seven-time champion announced a new two-year deal with Mercedes in the buildup to this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza. His teammate, George Russell, has also extended his deal for two more years.
The 38-year-old is in his 17th season in F1 and is already the second oldest driver in the sport behind Fernando Alonso, who is 42 years old. The new contract will take him into his forties as he attempts to take a record eighth F1 championship and means he will almost certainly see out his career with Mercedes on a deal worth a reported £50m a year.
Speaking in Monza an energised and enthused Hamilton was clearly happy to finally end the speculation about his future that has dogged him all season. He was insistent he is as physically and mentally in form as he has ever been and enthusiastic about the challenge of returning Mercedes to the front of the grid.
“We still have unfinished business,” he said. “We are in this together. We have a lot of work to do to get ourselves back to the front but there is no place I would rather be.”
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Hamilton has won six of his seven titles with Mercedes and the team won eight consecutive constructors’ championships between 2014 and 2021. However they have been off the pace since the regulation changes of 2022, with Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominant, the Dutchman winning the title last year and on his way to closing out this season already. Hamilton was unequivocal that he believed Mercedes could return to winning ways in the forthcoming two years.
“We’re trying to win more world championships, so the unfinished business is getting us back to the top,” he said. “It’s getting back and fighting for world championships. We’ve been the most successful team in history but it’s been a challenge this past year, so I think actually [it’s about] getting us back to where we belong and operate on all those cylinders, which you’re seeing Red Bull do.”
Since he was controversially denied his eighth title in the season finale at Abu Dhabi in 2021, won by Verstappen, the British driver has been determined to continue his attempts to claim another. Mercedes have been clear they believe the decision-making in Abu Dhabi was wrong and the FIA’s own investigation concluded there had been human error. Hamilton however was adamant that the unfinished business he referred to did not include a desire to put right what he was denied that day.
“I’m not really a revenge person and it’s not about revenge,” he said. “It’s not about redemption
“That’s in the past and there is nothing you can do about the past. What we can do is work harder, be more precise and be better moving forwards.”
Hamilton made his debut with McLaren in 2007 and won his first title with the team a year later. The records he has achieved since then are remarkable. He is F1’s most successful driver, equal with Michael Schumacher on seven titles, and has the most wins and the most pole positions with 103 and 104 respectively.
His future had been under question as the new deal had taken so long to be sealed but Hamilton had insisted all year it was all but done, with only fine-tuning required. It was finally concluded over last weekend’s Dutch GP.
The challenge ahead remains difficult, especially with Red Bull enjoying such a dominant car, but Hamilton was clear he felt his passion for the sport was undiminished despite the longevity of his career.
“I definitely didn’t think that I’d be the age that I am and feel the way that I do physically and mentally and still love what I’m doing as much as I do,” he said. “A lot of people stay in the same jobs and roles for a long period of time, and fall out of love with it. I genuinely still have that love for what I’m doing. I still love getting in the car, I still love racing with my peers.”
