Hamilton doesn't rule out quitting after 2017

Lewis Hamilton may yet leave Formula 1 after this current season, as the Brit says he doesn't know what he has planned. Hamilton's former teammate Nico Rosberg retired at the end of last year to great surprise, and Hamilton said his time may not be far away.

"My destiny is in my own hands," he said. "I can decide to stop at the end of this year. Does that mean my legacy is less great than it would be if I stop in five years' time? Who's to say? I don't like to plan for it because I don't know what's around the corner, I don't know what I'm going to do."

However, Hamilton also admitted that he is enjoying his time right now in Formula 1 due to the new cars which are giving Ferrari the chance to battle hard with Mercedes. Hamilton currently sits second in the driver standings behind Sebastian Vettel, and admits he is loving the fight.

"Yeah, right now it's solely (more enjoyable because of) competition," said Hamilton. "It's also easier battling another team. When (the competition) is all within a team it's just like a big vortex, and depending on the tension it gets stronger and stronger and is actually not really what a team is built to be. Now having another team (to fight) we are pulling together with that same drive -- it's just so much more powerful, it's really awesome."

Fergal Walsh