The 41-year-old made the remarks during a press conference on Thursday night, May 21, 2026, ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix scheduled for May 24.
When asked whether he was nearing the end of his career, Hamilton said he is not going anywhere and still has a contract with his team.
“I’ll be here for a long time. I still have a contract with Ferrari for next year. Everything is 100% fine, I still have goals, I still feel supported, and I still love what I do with all my heart. I’m going to be here for a while,” he said.
“There are many people who want me to retire, but honestly, I never think about that. Instead, I think about how I can continue racing over the next five years. I’m definitely still here.”
Hamilton, who shares the record of seven Formula 1 titles with Michael Schumacher, is aiming to become the first driver in history to win an eighth championship.
The British driver had previously considered retirement after enduring a difficult 2025 season.
At the time, he said: “It’s been a terrible performance. There’s nothing positive to celebrate today. I want this year to end, and honestly, if possible, I wouldn’t want to return next season.”
In the 2026 season, Hamilton currently sits fifth in the standings with 51 points, trailing Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team by 49 points. Antonelli now races for the team Hamilton previously drove for before joining Scuderia Ferrari.
