"\u2018I\u2019m a fighter\u2019 \u2013 Hamilton insists 2023 Mercedes performance won\u2019t determine his F1 future"

" \u2018I\u2019m a fighter\u2019 \u2013 Hamilton insists 2023 Mercedes performance won\u2019t determine his F1 future \r\n\r\nLewis Hamilton has shut down suggestions that a potential new contract with Mercedes hinges on the team\u2019s level of performance during the 2023 season, insisting \u201cI\u2019ll still be here\u201d whatever happens.\r\n\r\nHamilton is in the final year of his latest Mercedes deal, with the team facing performance struggles for the second consecutive campaign \u2013 their two cars finishing almost a minute away from victory at the Bahrain opener.\r\n\r\nIt marks a stark contrast to Mercedes\u2019 dominant run at the start of the turbo-hybrid era, which saw the team rack up eight successive constructors\u2019 titles and Hamilton add six drivers\u2019 crowns to the one he achieved at McLaren.\r\n\r\nAsked about recent talk of him refusing to sign fresh terms with Mercedes if their car continues to underperform, Hamilton was forthright in his answer, saying: \u201cIt\u2019s ultimately people creating rumours without facts. It\u2019s never helpful.\r\n\r\n\u201cI have been [supported by] Mercedes since I was 13. Having the difficult year we had last year, [I\u2019m] still here, and whether or not we have a difficult year this year, I\u2019ll still be here.\r\n\r\n\u201cI\u2019m a fighter and we fight as a team. I love the challenge of finding solutions and I still believe I\u2019m able to put the car in places that perhaps others are not able to \u2013 and I love that challenge.\r\n\r\n\u201cOf course, I wish that we [could] start the season with a great car, but it\u2019s the journey that really counts.\u201d\r\n\r\nHamilton then provided an update on where things stand with contract discussions, after Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitted to the \u201cfirst chat\u201d occurring.\r\n\r\n\u201cThere is no hold up with our contract. I\u2019ve always been very, very relaxed. I don\u2019t feel like I have to get it done right this second,\u201d he commented.\r\n\r\n\u201cI\u2019m in a very fortunate position. It will get done when we\u2019re ready. I have a great relationship with Toto and Mercedes, and we fully support each other.\r\n\r\n\u201cI\u2019m really excited for the future together, and I\u2019m really proud of the work that we\u2019re doing on and off the track.\u201d\r\n\r\nSigning off with a joke, he said: \u201cWe\u2019ll get there, unless some catastrophic thing happens with me and Toto \u2013 [like] we get into the ring!\u201d\r\n\r\nMercedes sit fourth in the constructors\u2019 standings after the Sakhir opener, 31 points adrift of leaders and world champions Red Bull, with Aston Martin and Ferrari also slotting ahead.\r\n\r\n "

"\u2018I\u2019m a fighter\u2019 \u2013 Hamilton insists 2023 Mercedes performance won\u2019t determine his F1 future"

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