Hamilton advised: 'It’s best to go a year too little than a year too long'

The rumours surrounding Lewis Hamilton 's possible departure from Formula 1 have been circulating for some time, and are not helped by the fact that the Briton has only signed a one-year extension with Mercedes. Amidst these rumours, Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle traces the driver's thoughts on the course of the rest of his career.

In the Formula 1 podcast In the Fast Lane Brundle tries to hypothesise which considerations will count the most in the seven-time world champion's decision making process. Brundle; “I think it will be whether he feels he can still win or not, he relished the win in Bahrain, that was one of his finer drives. … They always say, you’re as good as your last race. Well, then he is pretty good, isn't he?"

Brundle continued: "Lewis has always said, and I take him at face value, he just wants competition. Quite clearly, he’s much nearer the end of his Formula 1 career than the beginning, at 36 years old, but I think it will be all about who can give him the car, is he enjoying it, does he still need the money. … But, I think Lewis will take it year by year and see how he feels."

Preferring to quit too early

The Formula One pundit also finds some more general advice for drivers, which he then seems to direct more specifically at Sebastian Vettel, the current racer at Aston Martin. "It’s always best for drivers to go a year too little than a year too long, which we might be seeing with Seb Vettel at the moment."