Why all fans should appreciate Hamilton in F1 while the chance remains

“I’m 37, Jeez! I’ve still got a bit to go.” Lewis Hamilton was more polite than he might have been when it was put to him that he’ll be well into his forties if he wishes to continue racing against Max Verstappen, who now has a contract at Red Bull until the end of 2028.

But Hamilton dismissed that prospect when speaking on the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain. The seven-time world champion quickly added: “I don’t plan on being here close to that age. Hopefully I have some other fun things to get on with.”

And that’s true. Through his activism and participation in the fashion and music industries most notably, Hamilton appreciates more than many that life goes on beyond Formula 1.

His 56-day absence from social media following the deeply controversial end to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix came because the race was “the last thing I really wanted to talk to anyone about”.

But while Hamilton was silent, the immensely partisan world of Twitter went above and beyond to take aim at the two drivers involved in a title fight for the ages. Verstappen and Hamilton didn’t need to go online to argue their cases over the winter. Fans were doing it on their behalf, and militantly so at times. Blinkers on.

When asked if he had considered walking away over the winter, Hamilton said: “Of course at the end of seasons you think, and the question is whether you're willing to commit the time and the effort that it takes to be a world champion. I think a lot of people underestimate what it takes to be a world champion.

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“And there are so many moving parts. It's not just turning up and driving the car. So the question is, do you want to sacrifice the time? Do you believe that you can continue to punch at the weight that you're punching?”

Hamilton is now entering the latter stages of an F1 career that began in 2007 - how much longer will he go on?

Photo by: FIA Pool

Hamilton has long faced criticism for how he comes across in the media, for ‘mixing sports and politics’ and so on. He’s an immensely decorated but also divisive figure that can rub people up the wrong way – plenty of Brits included, for that matter. And while it’s unnatural to like everyone, for those that do take umbrage, they’re beginning to lose their window of opportunity in which to marvel at the Mercedes racer.

While Hamilton is seemingly not ready to embrace his approaching forties any time soon, now entering his 16th season as a grand prix driver, there’s no escaping that he’s in the twilight of his time in F1. Should he not extend his current contract with Mercedes, the 2023 campaign will be his last. Any year beyond that, which is likely to be highly contingent on the Silver Arrows’ prowess in the new ground-effect era, will be another birthday not spent pursuing other passions.

He continues: “For those that are around my age, of course you’re thinking about the future. You’re thinking about what are the next steps, what are the right steps for you to take, what’s right for you in terms of overall happiness."

Knowing how finite his GP tenure might be and how fired up Hamilton is, it’s time to sit back and objectively consider his prowess behind the wheel rather than get bogged down in a bitter rivalry

It’s thanks to his disparate interests outside of F1 that Hamilton has the biggest social media following, the most global recognition in the sport and is invited to brush shoulders on red carpets with the Hollywood elite. But that sky-high profile and those broad horizons are also why he’s unlikely to hang around when he feels his time to leave has come.

A co-commentary role seems completely out of the question. A paid ambassadorial position within the remit of F1 or managing other drivers is unlikely. But even an occasional guest appearance on the grid might not happen. When Hamilton leaves motorsport, it might well be for good. He could become almost inaccessible.

After all, this is a person who has “never wanted to be defined by a driver. Because there are so many more elements to who I am.” If the driver we all expect turns up in 2022, one who has the bit between his teeth having felt wronged by events at Yas Marina, it could be the best display from Hamilton to date.

Hamilton maintains that he doesn't want to be defined by what he does as a driver

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

In his own words, Hamilton says: “I always feel like through these sort of experiences, you can turn that emotion into strength and into power. That’s what I’m doing. I’m putting that into my training. I’m putting that into my work that I have with the men and women here in this team.

“If you think what you saw at the end of last year was my best, wait until you see this year… I’m just putting absolutely every ounce of my energy and time into making sure that I’m the best you’ve ever seen.”

But knowing how finite his GP tenure might be and how fired up Hamilton is, it’s time to sit back and objectively consider his prowess behind the wheel rather than get bogged down in a bitter rivalry.

The conflict between Hamilton and Verstappen has of course boiled over at Silverstone, Monza and Jeddah most notably. It’s good for the drama, and for bumping up audience interest. However, it seems to play out far more between fans – both sets as bad as the other – more viciously than it does between the two drivers.

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It would be a shame for it to take the passing of time and archive film footage to appreciate Hamilton to the fullest in years to come, when what he is displaying at present in the car – and out of it – shows why he is such a large part of the conversation as to who is the greatest of all time. Let’s not miss the chance to enjoy it in the heat of the moment.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images