Lewis Hamilton admitted he has fantasised about leaving Mercedes for another team as he discussed his Formula 1 future.
For a while a new contract looked to be a formality for the seven-time world champion. But the extension promised both by Hamilton and Mercedes chief Toto Wolff never materialised and the team's on-track struggles at the start of this new season have seen the subject put on the back burner.
Two distinct categories of speculation have since emerged. Some have suggested the 38-year-old might be ready to retire from F1 at the end of this season, while others claim he would want to join another team better placed to give him a shot at another title.
Regarding the latter, Hamilton has admitted that he has given some thought to what it would be like to make a fresh start. Speaking to ESPN, the Brit said: "I'd be lying if I said I'd never thought about ending my career anywhere else.
"I started at McLaren, I'd like to think I'll always be a part of the McLaren family, I started there when I was 13 years old so I thought about what it would look like if I was at McLaren one day. I thought about and watched the Ferrari drivers on the screens at the track and of course you wonder what it would be like to be in red."
But he went on to make it clear that, despite those thoughts, he is not considering such a switch. Hamilton added: "But then I go to my team, to Mercedes, and this is my home. I'm happy where I am. I haven't signed a contract yet, but we are working on one."
That promise of a new deal also made it clear retirement is not on the table for Hamilton right now. Despite approaching his 40s, he insists he still has both the physical fitness and mental motivation to continue to perform at the top of his game.
He explained: "I don't plan on stopping any time soon. I'm not at the end of my career, I'm not in the downhill slope of my career. I'm in my prime. It all depends on how hard I want to work and keep myself in my prime, in terms of physical and mental capability.
"If you look at LeBron [James], if you look at Tom Brady, they have shown that it can be sustained for as long as you are dedicated enough to put the energy and time in. Right now, I don't plan on changing, I only plan on adding to the drive and the motivation and to being better. I'm massively driven."
