MOTORSPORT: Hamilton eyes Formula E

Lewis Hamilton could turn to Formula E once his run in Formula One is done.

The five-times world champion has never spoken openly about his grand prix retirement plan but concedes it could be tough to go cold turkey after Formula One.

Speaking at a function to celebrate 125 years in motorsport for Mercedes-Benz, at Silverstone (UK) on the weekend, Hamilton says he is focussed on his latest F1 championship campaign but starting to think about life afterwards.

Hamilton admits that it could be difficult to transition to a life without motorsport, even though he has many projects already including his tie-up with the Tommy Hilfiger clothing company.

“Being that I’ve been racing since I was eight years old, I’m going to have massive withdrawal symptoms, most likely, when I stop. You know, when Formula One stops for me,” Hamilton told the 125th anniversary dinner.

But he still sees potential challenges in motorsport, and is watching the examples of Fernando Alonso (who is racing Le Mans sports cars and the Indianapolis 500 this year, as well as recently testing a Dakar racer) and Kimi Raikkonen, who has dabbled in everything from NASCAR and the World Rally Championship to snowmobile racing.

“I don’t know. Alonso is continuing and you see Kimi pushing the boundaries,” says Hamilton.

“There are other things to do. There are other series I could do."

Pushed harder on the likelihood of him doing something else, Hamilton zeroes-in on Formula E. And he sees the example of his friend Gary Paffett, a long-term Mercedes-Benz racer who won two German touring car titles but has now switched to Formula E with Benz.

“We grew up around the same time, although he was a few years older than me. I see what Gary is doing,” says Hamilton.

As Benz continues the build-up to its official entry into Formula E for the 2019-2020 season, when Porsche will also be joining the battery-powered championship, Hamilton sees the potential in the all-electric racing.

“Formula E is now going to be the future. So, who knows, maybe in the future there is an area where I can use my skills,” he says.

“But as you get older and older it gets more challenging to find the motivation to stay focussed. And you’ve got to find something that you love.”

Hamilton does not elaborate on whether he would be a driver, or in team management, but concedes his commitment to motoring.

“I’m pretty sure I will always love cars,” he says.

But Formula E is currently over the horizon and he is focussed on fighting for a sixth world title, and perhaps more.

“For now I’m going to stay in Formula One so long as I can stay relevant and focussed, and fit and determined, and doing the best that I can.”