Hamilton considered sabbatical: ''Might be good for me''

With six world titles in his pocket, Lewis Hamilton has the teams to choose when his contract expires, but the Briton has not always been waiting for a new contract and even states that a sabbatical was one of the options.

Sabbatical for Hamilton?

''In the last five years I've been wondering if it wouldn't be better to give up Formula 1 for a year. The problem, however, is that you don't come back just like that and for an athlete it is also very difficult to find that form again'", says Hamilton in a YouTube video from Mercedes.

For example, Michael Schumacher never managed to return to his old level after returning to the sport in 2010. Of course, Schumacher had been out for three years and Hamilton is looking forward to one year, but Fernando Alonso is also struggling to find a place in the sport again after a year with only twenty seats.

Hamilton learns French

"The technology in Formula 1 is very fast, so you can't really get out. You have to know everything about the car and you can't do that anymore. That sabbatical, however, has now been kind of a gift from the coronavirus and I am enjoying that. I feel fresher and healthier than ever, but now the trick is to stay mentally strong.''

Hamilton is doing everything in its power to make that happen. ''I feel rather slow for days, but then I make sure I can do something anyway. I boosted my French with a course so that I could do something'', concludes Hamilton who now also has all the time to make a decision about his future in Formula 1.