Hamilton hesitated: 'Started to wonder if I was still in the right place'

For a while, there was the question if Lewis Hamilton would drive at all this year. When it was announced that he would fight for the championship again this year, the rumours started about a possible farewell after this season. Thanks to his contract earlier this year, the Brit will still drive a Mercedes until 2023.

The current title battle with Max Verstappen proves that Hamilton has made the right choice for the time being. Speaking to The Express, the Briton says he has, however, given some thought to retiring.

"You have to do what you are passionate about and what you enjoy. For me personally, there was a point where it all got too serious and so I started to ask myself if I was still right. It's true that I'm in a very competitive environment, but when the visor goes down and the car is started, I have the biggest smile, even after so many years in racing."

Hamilton stop when he stops smiling

And for now, according to Hamilton himself, that is not yet the case. Not even during this season, in which things didn't go well for a long time and the fight mostly took place off the track.

"We only have one life. You have to enjoy what you do. It's important to find pleasure in what you do and what you're doing every day. That's very important to me as well. The day I don't enjoy what I'm doing anymore when I don't get a smile, I know it's done. Then I have to do something else."

Hamilton will continue his hunt for his eighth world championship next weekend in Belgium. At Spa, he will be looking to continue his current form with his team.