Lewis Hamilton says missing out on world title in Abu Dhabi will only ‘encourage longer stay in F1’

Lewis Hamilton Said to miss his eighth world title Abu Dhabi Last year just motivated him to continue his F1 journey as Mercedes The goal is to get back to the top.

The seven-time world champion is Controversially denied in his thrilling fight and Max Verstappen Last lap in Abu Dhabi in 2021, and this year Mercedes has struggled to catch up Red Bull and Ferrari And, with six games to go, they face their first winless season since 2011.

But while the 37-year-old Hamilton is only sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, the Briton insists he is not thinking about retiring and is focusing on what he and his team need to do to return to the top of the standings next year .

When asked if he missed 2021 and that struggles this year will only encourage him to stay in F1 longer, he told racer: “Indeed. Because it would take more than a year.

“I think if we just won last year and then we win this year, life would definitely be in a different place and you would be on a different path. I like that it went through a much tougher phase and we had to get over that weight to the point where we’re a little lighter and float a little more. So yeah, I’d say it encouraged me to stay longer.

“Plus I’m feeling fit and I’m looking for ways to make my body feel better. Mental challenges are a constant thing and always will be because that’s what it is for us athletes, we’re on the edge. But right now, in my I’m really grateful for the opportunities I’ve had here. I like to think I still deserve a place here. So there’s a lot of work to do.”

Hamilton admits Mercedes’ problems this season – with early-season dolphins and rebounds reducing any title challenge and lack of pace in qualifying affecting potential race wins – are hard to swallow, but insists he “loves the challenge” of trying to find Solve the Silver Arrow problem.

“It was definitely tough,” he said. “But I don’t like the word ‘hard’ because I’ve just been in Africa and I’ve seen kids with nothing, so nothing is really that hard. That’s what we say in our hearts, right? But it should never be Be an excuse, it takes work, and I really don’t want it any other way.

“Honestly, if every day was easy and you just got through it, it wouldn’t be a challenge. I love working with everyone and challenging people and their challenges to me. All admit that this year we Not doing well, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do well in the future. We have done it in the past.

“Does it hurt? I wouldn’t say it hurts. We all know what it could be. We’d love to be in that fight, I wish all the cars were closer and we all had a fight closer to the front. Good fight. I wish there was only one tenth between us, you know? But that’s not the way our sport is.”

Hamilton will next Singapore Grand Prix Next week, he hopes to maintain a 15-year record for winning a race in every F1 season he has participated in.