588 replies to this topic

[YamahaV10]

I think he will. He could get bought out of his last year and just retire on the ultimate high note.

 

Then who takes his seat ? Interesting times.

[Ivanhoe]

I’m absolutely sure he also wants a WDC under the new regs. He’s not finished.

[GTR]

why this kind of threads? will Max retire after his first title this year, too?

[alframsey]

I don't think he does. He is after 10

[geralt]

Why would he, as long as can produce laps like the ones he did today, there is no reason not to continue

[Augurk]

Could go either way. Seems like he is still enjoying being there. Also gets a handsome paycheck. So why leave?

If he does decide to it could be things in his private life that make him decide to retire. Or that he has achieved all he wants. Or his political/societal ambitions. 

 

Could also be how he looks at having George in the team. I don't think he's afraid of Georges skills or pace, but it could turn into a rivalry like he had with Rosberg and could quite simply not be in the mood for that. 

 

But I wouldn't be surprised just seeing him see out his contract for 2 more years. 

[YamahaV10]

I’m absolutely sure he also wants a WDC under the new regs. He’s not finished.

With these engines being used next year , yeah. Why wouldn't he just go for another.

[flyboym3]

Please lock this thread, it's based on nothing as he has a contract until end of 2023.

Edited by flyboym3, 20 November 2021 - 16:39.

[RekF1]

I think he will. He could get bought out of his last year and just retire on the ultimate high note.
 
Then who takes his seat ? Interesting times.

I think that's wishful thinking. Surely he'll want to carry on with his 50bhp advantage

[ARTGP]

He'll retire when it's no longer fun. Otherwise, if he's having fun, why would he retire? I don't know what the criteria is for that, but increasing the calendar length could tip the scales. 

Edited by ARTGP, 20 November 2021 - 16:40.

[northanmonkee2]

no

[Anuity]

No.

[YamahaV10]

Please lock this thread, it's based on nothing as he has a contract until end of 2023.

He can easily be bought out of his last year

[PlatenGlass]

It depends if and when he gets his 8th.

[PayasYouRace]

Depends when/if he gets his 8th of course.

 

I don’t think he’ll retire this year, no matter what the outcome is. Not sure I see him as one of those champions who’ll continue to make up the numbers in the midfield for years, but I’m sure as soon as the wins stop coming regularly he’ll be off to do something else, probably not even racing in another series.

[PayasYouRace]

It depends if and when he gets his 8th.

Snap! Great minds and all that… 

[Garagista]

Not with Red Bull stirring the pot like they are doing now. It is exactly the kind of thing that stimulates Hamilton, someone "questioning" his achievements.

[se7en_24]

He can easily be bought out of his last year

Yeah I'm sure Mercedes will be happy to pay Lewis's massive wages while he sits out for a contracted year if he's the reigning 8 time world champion. 

[tourister46a]

Absolutely not. No reason to think he will be slower than his teammates and almost guaranteed to have a fighting chance over the next 2 years as well. In a sport where it is absolutely paramount to have a good car to fight for titles, he would be a fool to leave when he has chance to keep rewriting the record books.

 

Even Alonso - a man of similar talent but who is continually being kicked in the nuts with the type of machinery he has at his disposal - is still here.

[PayasYouRace]

He can easily be bought out of his last year

So now it’s not retirement, but Mercedes sacking him?

[NewMrMe]

I think he will keep going as long as he feels he is competitive. I do get the feeling though that once he believes he is starting to lose his edge he won't stick around much longer.

[w00dy]

Please lock this thread, it's based on nothing as he has a contract until end of 2023.

 

50% of Mercedes champions retired suddenly with active contracts.

[Marklar]

Zero reason to. Which probably makes everyone who thinks that he is scared of being "found out" boil their blood...

[YamahaV10]

Yeah I'm sure Mercedes will be happy to pay Lewis's massive wages while he sits out for a contracted year if he's the reigning 8 time world champion.

It happens all the time in pro sports. Yes. They'd pay him to sit if he wanted to retire.


w
Lewis Hamilton demands the highest salary in Formula 1 by far. His $19.5m signing cost includes a $13m base salary plus $6.5m to buy the world champion out of his Mercedes contract.

https://realsport101...ning-formula-1/

Edited by YamahaV10, 20 November 2021 - 16:55.

[smitten]

Depends if and when he gets an 8th, doesn't it?

[NewMrMe]

Saying, Mercedes can buy him out. Yes, they potentially could but why would they want to as long as he is delivering on the track. He is also a recognisable name outside of the sport and that would count a lot for marketing opportunities and sponsors. Don't forget that for manufacturers the point of being in F1 is a marketing exercise.

[NewMrMe]

50% of Mercedes champions retired suddenly with active contracts.

 

No they didn't. 33% did.

[P123]

50% of Mercedes champions retired suddenly with active contracts.

 

You may wish to revise your percentage..!

[P123]

Zero reason to. Which probably makes everyone who thinks that he is scared of being "found out" boil their blood...

 

Like the motivation behind this topic....

 

Let's make it 10... he'll maybe retire then.

[ToniF1]

Well at least he started a thread after 7 Mercedes WDC/WCC, we were getting "Mercedes already proved they can win , they should get out of the sport" before 2017 lvls of stupidity back in 2016.

 

Because that's what you do when you are wining, you suddenly throw that away and let other win

Edited by ToniF1, 20 November 2021 - 16:57.

[pdac]

No. Hamilton will retire when it's no longer enjoyable to him (which, right now, looks a long way off)

[NewMrMe]

Well at least he started a thread after 7 Mercedes WDC/WCC, we were getting "Mercedes already proved they can win , they should get out of the sport" before 2017 lvls of stupidity back in 2016.

 

Because that's what you do when you are wining, you suddenly throw that away and let other win

 

To be fair though that was basically Renault's reason for pulling out as an engine supplier after 1997. They said they were no longer getting publicity for winning as it was expected.

[Red5ive]

Its not clear he will ever get an 8th title.

 

Verstappen still favourite this year and a young, ambitious Russell in the other car next season.......

[Anuity]

. He is also a recognisable name outside of the sport and that would count a lot for marketing opportunities and sponsors. Don't forget that for manufacturers the point of being in F1 is a marketing exercise.

Is he though?

My impression is that people who are not F1 fans usually don’t even know about the drivers. 
Despite being a world championship it’s still quite limited. I have zero interest in football and have never watched a single game in my life, but I have heard of Ronaldo/Messi/Pele.

 

does any f1 driver has such recognition? I’m not sure. Maybe Senna or Schumacher, but even then.

[Anderis]

If he is ever going to get the 8th title, surely he will retire after getting it and not before.

 

/close the thread

[Button4life]

He has to retire at some point. So he’ll retire after his 8th championship if he gets it. Might be in 2 years, might be in 7 years. Nobody knows.

[ToniF1]

Is he though?

My impression is that people who are not F1 fans usually don’t even know about the drivers. 
Despite being a world championship it’s still quite limited. I have zero interest in football and have never watched a single game in my life, but I have heard of Ronaldo/Messi/Pele.

 

does any f1 driver has such recognition? I’m not sure. Maybe Senna or Schumacher, but even then.

Well just on instagram he has 25.2 million followers and he is from a big country with big media (UK) not like for example Djokovic(Serbia). Thats big exposure.

 

He alone has more than F1, Mclaren and Ferrari together, so its not just F1 fans.

Edited by ToniF1, 20 November 2021 - 17:14.

[balage06]

All this childish paranoia everywhere... It's pathetic.

[YamahaV10]

Well at least he started a thread after 7 Mercedes WDC/WCC, we were getting "Mercedes already proved they can win , they should get out of the sport" before 2017 lvls of stupidity back in 2016.

Because that's what you do when you are wining, you suddenly throw that away and let other win

As Rosberg did. There's such a thing as ending on a high note. Instead of falling to obscurity and irrelevance like Vettel is doing.

[YamahaV10]

Verstappen still favourite this year ......

Verstappen was the favorite this year.

[gillesfan76]

I think he will. He could get bought out of his last year and just retire on the ultimate high note.

 

Then who takes his seat ? Interesting times.

 

I think he’s looking forward to the new regs. He’s a beast in race pace and tyre management, and if he can follow closely, the pressure he will put on the driver he is chasing will be phenomenal to watch. Same with Max, except for the tyre management not beyond doubt yet.

 

I just hope all the cars are close enough that we can see these drivers chase down other cars. If either Merc or Red Bull are standalone in front on pace next year, we won’t get to see often what those two drivers are capable of in the race if this new series allows cars to follow closely.

[YamahaV10]

I think he’s looking forward to the new regs. He’s a beast in race pace and tyre management, and if he can follow closely, the pressure he will put on the driver he is chasing will be phenomenal to watch. Same with Max, except for the tyre management not beyond doubt yet.

I just hope all the cars are close enough that we can see these drivers chase down other cars. If either Merc or Red Bull are standalone in front on pace next year, we won’t get to see often what those two drivers are capable of in the race if this new series allows cars to follow closely.

It won't be close next year. Because the engines are going to be basically the same.

[OO7]

Last season I recall comments suggesting Hamilton should retire because his championships were meaningless give the superiority of the W11 and Bottas unable to mount a sort challenge.  This year we have an intense, closely fought battle with Red Bull and more suggestions of retirement despite him performing at a high level and signing a contract for 2022 and 2023................

[Atreiu]

In my heart of hearts I hope he returns to McLaren to retire.

[Huffer]

In my heart of hearts I hope he returns to McLaren to retire.

 

I want him to go to Ferrari - if only so I get to listen to the screams of the Tifosi

[Spillage]

Depends really. If he gets his 8th title this year I don't think he'll retire. If it's in 2 or 3 years, then maybe.

[7WDC]

As long as he has the best he will not retire,,, and who can blame him for that?

[SilverArrow31]

I think he will. He could get bought out of his last year and just retire on the ultimate high note.

Then who takes his seat ? Interesting times.

This is nothing more but wishful thinking for a grid without Hamilton... exactly the same as the wishful thinking for Mercedes cheating, he isn't going anywhere

[w00dy]

I want him to go to Ferrari - if only so I get to listen to the screams of the Tifosi

 

Lew signed a deal with the devil. Only Merc engine for him, for life.

And who can blame him? it's very leisurely.

[as65p]

No to both questions.