The 37-year-old, whose present deal is because of expire on the finish of subsequent season, not too long ago revealed he’s planning to signal a brand new “multi-year” contract with Mercedes to maintain racing till at the very least 2025.
Hamilton didn’t initially intend on racing into his 40s, however after being denied a record-breaking eighth world title within the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix amid defeat to Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen, he insists Mercedes “have a championship that we have to get again”.
Talking on the Efficiency Individuals podcast hosted by Ben Ainslie and spouse Georgie, Wolff harassed Hamilton will retire when he feels he has reached his ‘shelf life’ as a racing driver.
“Lewis is completely mature and acutely aware about the place he stands in his profession,” Wolff mentioned. “He’s not being led by his feelings, like I’ve seen with sportspeople that suppose it will probably go on endlessly and attempting to hold on to it.
“Lewis is rational and clever about it. He says ‘I do know I’ve a shelf life as a racing driver’.
“Lewis is aware of that someday he won’t be the perfect himself anymore. That hasn’t occurred but. However we’ve been speaking about it. He mentioned ‘I’d like to proceed…do you suppose we are able to do one other 5 to 10 years?’ However that is extra jokingly.
“I believe he has just a few good years left in him and he would be the first one to say ‘I don’t suppose I can compete in opposition to a 24-year-old that’s nearly as good as I used to be and even near how I used to be’ and that’s merely the way it goes.”
Hamilton has many pursuits outdoors of F1 together with within the trend, music and movie industries, whereas he additionally not too long ago turn into a part-owner of NFL staff the Denver Broncos.
Wolff has backed Hamilton to “reinvent himself” in “a second or third profession” when he does determine to hold up his helmet and cease racing.
“I’ve little doubt Lewis Hamilton will not be solely the best racing driver, with Michael [Schumacher] in a method, however he will even achieve success in his personal method, in a second or third profession and reinventing himself,” he mentioned.