Hamilton explains how Abu Dhabi 2021 made him question his future

The seven-time champion has gone through two difficult years with the Mercedes team, which has found itself unable to consistently keep up with the dominant Red Bull team. These competitive struggles also stem directly from the controversy at the end of 2021, where the FIA’s mishandling of the safety car restart at that year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ultimately cost Hamilton the world title.

And while Hamilton has committed to helping Mercedes return to the forefront of F1 with a new contract that keeps him engaged until the end of 2025, he admitted to occasionally questioning his own performance.

A season 2023 that did not help

« Of course. I am only human. If someone in the world tells you that they have no doubts, they are in denial. We are all human beings » declared the seven-time world champion, not without philosophy.

Although Hamilton is currently experiencing his longest victory drought in F1, having not stood on the top step of the podium since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021, he says that too many statistics are being made, and considers the current challenges with Mercedes to be similar to the difficulties he has faced at other times in his career.

When asked about the importance of being winless for two years, he replied: « I think that’s a misconception. When I was younger, I had bad years too. In 2009, the car was horrible. We only won one race throughout the year thanks to a second upgrade during the season ».

« Then, 2010-11 weren’t great years either. From my perspective, personally, it’s because the car wasn’t spectacular. So, maybe it’s the biggest drought in terms of success, but if you remove those victories, it’s similar to those seasons ».

« I think I have learned a lot about my mindset and how to keep it strong and stay positive, by adding new tools to my arsenal so I can continue doing what I do ».

« I am 38 years old, almost 39, and I feel good in my body. This is due to some tools that I have been able to accumulate over the past two years. The time that I have been able to manage outside of work, I think I have been able to do a much better job in terms of maintaining energy and focus. »

Hamilton considered retirement after 2021

Following the controversial end of the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton completely vanished from the public eye. And even though he had previously stated that he was still determined to come back, he now admits that there were moments when he had contemplated walking away for good. « Of course, yes », he replied when asked if an instant retirement crossed his mind.

« There were so many things going through my mind during that period. But I think one of the worst things you can do is make decisions based on your emotions, because when you’re emotional and caught up in the heat of the moment, most of the time, you won’t make the best decisions.

“The emotions were intense, it was a really tough period, so I had to wait for things to calm down, for my thoughts to be clear, and then be able to make the right decisions.”

Hamilton said that he had left Europe to spend time with his family while gathering his thoughts. « “I was with my niece and nephew in a beautiful place, in Hawaii, with my family, and at a moment when I felt really happy and just wanted to rise up and keep going,” he said. »