Lewis Hamilton: "I’ve never missed a team mate"

Lewis Hamilton has said he was never missed a team mate in his career as he adapts to life at Mercedes after Nico Rosberg. The duo were paired at Mercedes for four years before the German's retirement at the end of 2016.

Excluding Bottas, Hamilton has taken on four team mates throughout his career abut says that he has never missed one after they parted: "I’ve never missed a team-mate in my life, one goes and another comes along."

Hamilton endured a tense relationship with Rosberg over their years at Mercedes, and the Briton has admitted that it feels strange not to be working with him.

"It is already strange, being down in the garage and having someone other than Nico next to me. I don’t know all the reasons that Nico decided to stop, but I can really understand the feeling of wanting to retire and do something different. Every now and then I have a thought about what I will do afterwards. Then I see that car and I’m, like, I think I’m going to stay."

Despite pondering life after F1 a number of times, Hamilton admits that he is still as hungry as ever for success and doesn't quite know how long he will be racing.

" I don’t know how long I’ll be racing but at the moment I’m still competitive, I’m still hungry and still driving at my best. That is how I will continue no matter who I race against. I feel like I can put up a good fight. It’s always a great thing to go out on top.

"The big question for any athlete probably is at what point you are at the top and will continue to be at the top. I’m sure that has to be a part of Nico’s decision making. I don’t think like that. I win the championship and then I want to fight for it again the next year. It is a clean slate this year. You’ve got almost a new format."

Fergal Walsh