Sir Lewis Hamilton has shared his future career plans post his retirement from Formula 1, without specifying the exact timeframe for this decision.
At 39-years-old, Hamilton is entering the final phase of his hugely successful career as the most accomplished driver in F1 history, having won seven titles and 103 races.
After controversially losing the 2021 championship to Max Verstappen, he has experienced a difficult period in his career and has not achieved a victory since the penultimate round of that season.
As a result, Hamilton has appeared somewhat demotivated recently, especially due to Mercedes' failure to provide a competitive car for him, and he recently stated that 2024 has been his ‘worst start to a season ever’.
He is set to move to Ferrari in 2025 to fulfill a childhood dream of racing in red, but the duration of his racing career beyond this remains uncertain due to a multi-year contract.
However, it is clear what Hamilton will pursue post his retirement from the sport, as he disclosed to GQ that he is already making plans for it.
He said: ‘I’d spoken to many remarkable athletes, from Boris Becker to Serena Williams, and even Michael Jordan. Conversing with these legends I've encountered, who are either retired or still in competition, about the fear of what comes next, the lack of preparation for it.
‘Many of them said, “I retired too early” or “I stayed too long. When it ended, I didn’t have anything planned. My entire world collapsed as my whole life had 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 void. And I had no idea how to fill it.
“And I was in such a hurry initially to try and fill it that I filled it with the wrong thing. And I made a few mistakes. Eventually, I found my way”.
‘Some people took longer. Some people took shorter. But it got me thinking about, “Okay, when I stop, how do I avoid that?”
‘So I became determined to find other things that I was passionate about.’
So what are those passions that Hamilton will pursue? ‘I think it’s going to be film and fashion.’
He has already dabbled in these areas, notably when he had to decline a role in Top Gun: Maverick, one of the most successful blockbusters in recent years.
Hamilton became friends with Tom Cruise in 2014 and humorously requested a role in the yet-to-be-announced sequel. By 2018, he was offered the opportunity to play a pilot by director Joseph Kosinski.
However, he had to refuse at that time due to his battle with Sebastian Vettel for the F1 title.
‘Firstly, I hadn’t even taken any acting lessons. Additionally, I don’t want to be the one who disappoints this movie,’ added Hamilton.
'And then secondly, I just didn't have enough time to commit to it. I recall having to inform Joe and Tom, and it was very upsetting for me.
'And then I felt sorry, of course, when they show me the movie and it's like, 'It could've been me!''
Hamilton’s part in the movie was given to actor Danny Ramirez, who actually thanked the F1 legend for rejecting it.
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