Lewis Hamilton: ‘I don’t think I’ve hit the limit yet’ in F1

Newly-crowned seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton says he doesn’t feel like he has “hit the limit yet” in terms of what he can achieve in F1.
Race winner and World Champion Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 on the podium.
Race winner and World Champion Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 on the…
© FIA Pool Image for Editorial Use

Newly-crowned seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton says he doesn’t feel like he has “hit the limit yet” in terms of what he can achieve in Formula 1.

The 35-year-old’s 94th career victory in Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix clinched a seventh drivers’ world title that saw him move level with Michael Schumacher’s all-time record for most world championships in F1.

Hamilton claimed his 10th win from 14 races so far this season in treacherously wet conditions at a slippery Istanbul Park by over 30 seconds as he added to his previous drivers’ crowns from 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

SEE ALSO: Is Lewis Hamilton F1’s greatest ever? And how long will his reign last?

And Hamilton, who is expected to agree a new deal to remain with Mercedes next year in the coming weeks, insists he is far from done as he looks to become the outright most successful racing driver in history by winning an eighth world championship in 2021.

“I feel like this was one of my best drives and I feel like I’m getting better,” Hamilton told the official Formula 1 website.

“That’s probably not what people maybe want to hear and there’s going to be some sort of obstacles and road bumps ahead, but that’s okay. I’m going to stumble at some stage but that’s okay.

“That’s part of the growth process and I welcome that. However, I’m more aware of how to navigate through those and how to overcome them quickly and learn from them.”

Asked when he will start to look towards taking a record-breaking eighth world title, Hamilton replied: “Not quick at all. Right now it’s so, so important for me, particularly what I’ve learned this year, is to live in the moment.

“It’s enjoying the moment because it will pass. So I will try and appreciate it as much as I can. In the New Year then I will start look at what’s next, and where I can be better and what else I want to do in the world.

“What I can say is that I want to stay here, I don’t feel like I’ve hit the limit yet.”

Race winner and World Champion Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W11 celebrates in parc ferme.
Race winner and World Champion Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W11…
© FIA Pool Image for Editorial Use

Hamilton revealed that he has been working extremely hard behind-the-scenes in his relentless pursuit for improvement, saying that he has “studied more this year” than ever before.

“People may think it looks easy but it’s far from it,” he explained. “It’s taken a long, long time for me to be as good as I am.

“I think I’ve always had the talent, I’ve probably always had the tools but I’ve been messing around in the toolbox not knowing what to do with those tools.

“I’ve been fine-tuning them and I think it’s just focusing on things. Every year I write down where I’m not great, because there’s plenty of places I’m not great.

“It’s takes a lot of studying and I’ve studied more this year than I would have done last year and I’ve had more time to do that. But I never really understood when I was younger, you don’t just arrive and drive.

“The amount of homework that I do in the background is probably the reason you see results that I get today.”

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