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Lewis Hamilton has laid out his stance on retiring from Formula 1 after speaking to Michael Jordan and Serena Williams.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton is the second-oldest driver on the grid at 39, only behind Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso (42).
And speaking to GQ, he’s shared his thoughts on life after Formula 1, having raced in the sport since 2007.
The Briton is the most successful driver in the sport’s history, with a record 103 wins and 104 pole positions.
Only Alonso (383) and Kimi Raikkonen (353) have entered more races than Hamilton (335).
He’s already decided to join Ferrari next year in one of the most significant driver transfers F1 has ever seen.
The former McLaren man has signed a multi-year deal with the Italian marquee, one that will see him race alongside Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton has made his poorest-ever start to a season in 2024, failing to finish inside the top six at any of the first three races for the first time.
26-year-old teammate George Russell has also out-qualified him at every opportunity.
Lewis Hamilton shares what ‘greats’ told him about retiring
Hamilton says he has discussed life after sport with iconic figures like Serena Williams and Michael Jordan.
Tennis legend Williams ranks third all-time for grand slam wins with 23, while former NBA superstar Jordan is a six-time champion and five-time MVP.
Williams, 42, hasn’t definitively called time on her tennis career but last competed at the 2022 US Open.
Jordan, meanwhile, twice came out of retirement, first in 1995 after a brief stint in baseball and then in 2001 with the Washington Wizards.
The overriding message Hamilton received was that he needed to pursue other passions to ensure his life didn’t revolve entirely around racing.
He said: “I’d spoken to so many amazing athletes, from Boris Becker to Serena Williams, even Michael Jordan.
“Talking to greats that I’ve met along the way, who are retired – or some that are still in competition – and the fear of what’s next, the lack of preparation for what’s next.
“A lot of them said: ‘I stopped too early.’ Or: ‘Stayed too long.’ ‘When it ended, I didn’t have anything planned.’ ‘My whole world came crashing down because my whole life has been about that sport.’
“Some of them were like: ‘I didn’t plan and it was a bit of a mess-up because I was really lost afterwards. There was such a hole. Such a void. And I had no idea how I was going to fill it. And I was in such a rush initially to try and fill it that you fill it with the wrong thing. And you make a few mistakes. And then eventually you find your way.’
“Some people took longer. Some people took shorter. But it just got my mind thinking about: OK, when I stop, how do I avoid that? And so I got serious about finding other things that I was passionate about.”
Could Oliver Bearman succeed Hamilton?
Ferrari know that, given his age, their partnership with Hamilton is likely to be short-term.
Alonso is eyeing a top seat at Mercedes or Red Bull well into his 40’s, but there’s no guarantee that Hamilton will stay in the sport that long.
Even before he’s made his switch to the Prancing Horse, a possible successor has emerged.
18-year-old Oliver Bearman made his debut as an emergency replacement for an unwell Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Bearman finished ahead of Hamilton on the road in seventh, potentially paving the way for an F1 debut next year at the Ferrari-linked Haas team.
If he delivers, then the Scuderia may see him as a ready-made successor when his compatriot hangs up his helmet.
Hamilton went and congratulated the teenager immediately after his debut in a move that delighted Ferrari chairman John Elkann.
While the Mercedes man was 22 when he made his F1 debut in 2007, Bearman became the third-youngest driver in the sport’s history.
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