LEWIS HAMILTON celebrated his 300th race with a podium and insisted he’s got “plenty of fuel in the tank” as he weighs up staying in F1.
The Brit, 37, has 18 months left to run on his current deal with Mercedes with boss Toto Wolff revealing he has started negotiations with the seven-times world champion.
Hamilton finished second on his 300th GP
Hamilton was second in France on Sunday while his team-mate George Russell was third as the team scored their best result of the season.
And when quizzed if he could notch up the 400 races Wolff had suggested, Hamilton said: “That is a lot of races. I just want to be grateful to get to this point.
“But I still feel fresh and there is plenty of fuel in the tank. I am enjoying the process and arriving everyday and working with this group of people.
“And I am enjoying working with this sport.
“There are some great people in this sport and I am enjoying my time more than ever.
“I want to get back to winning ways and I am sure we will sit down together soon.”
After a slow start to the season, Hamilton now has four podiums in a row as he tried to become the first F1 driver to reach the 300 landmark and win a race.
He added: “This is my 300th GP and I woke up incredibly grateful for all the people who have been with me.
“Ron Dennis, Mercedes, Martin Whitmasrh, Toto, Niki Lauda…I have been on an incredible journey with them.
“But we have to keep pushing and I hope we are getting a little closer. This weekend, Max was only 10 seconds up the road, so we are closer.
“Keeping Red Bull behind is tough, especially with their straight-line speed.
“George and I didn’t expect to be second and third, this is a huge day for me and I am taking that positivity on to Budapest.”
Meanwhile Russell squeezed past Sergio Perez after a virtual safety car to snap up the final place on the podium as Max Verstappen took the chequered flag.
He said: “It felt pretty straight forward. I gunned it when the lights went green. I got a nice run and timed it perfectly. It was pretty sweet.
“We feel like we are making progress and have a direction to develop the car.
“It took eight or nine races and now we are excited for the second half of the season.”
Did you miss our previous article…
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