Hamilton contemplates life after F1

Lewis Hamilton has confessed that, although he has no plans to leave Formula One competition anytime soon, he believes he has already missed out on a lot of things such as spending time with friends and family while on the Grand Prix circuit.

The Brit secured his fourth world championship this season after some outstanding showings with Mercedes, which puts him level with his Ferrari rival, Sebastian Vettel. More accolades are obviously desired, but if they don't come quickly Hamilton does not plan on staying in the sport for many more years.

“I’ve currently got another year with the team and I do want to continue [after that], but I'm at that point where there's that question, [of retiring]" Hamilton told the BBC.

“There's a saying you stay as long as you can. I’m not quite sure about that exactly but there is a lot of life left beyond it.

“Things that I've missed in life.

"I was talking to my best friend the other day about things that I do envy or look forward to, like living in one place, getting a routine: 'That's my gym, I have game night with my friends here.' My family.

“Each year I stay in the sport, I delay those things.”

Mercedes won the constructors' championship and the drivers' championship through Hamilton this season, and the world champion is widely expecting to sign a bumper new contract with the Silver Arrows in the coming weeks.