"I'm not here just to participate. I never have been, never will be"
Tuesday 3 May 2016 22:03, UK
Lewis Hamilton says he will never be happy "just to participate" in F1 and will continue racing as long as he has a chance to win.
The reigning world champion, who turned 31 in January, is in his 10th season of F1 and the early months of a new three-year contract at Mercedes.
A three-time world champion, Hamilton also stands third in the all-time list of F1 race victors, while only Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna have secured more pole positions.
The Briton says his passion for racing - and winning - remains as strong as ever.
"The goal in racing is to excel in every opportunity I have still," Hamilton said during a select media briefing in Sochi.
"I still want to win championships, I still want to win races. I don't know why I still have the drive to do those things because I've had quite a few of them, but it's because it's what I love doing.
"So I will continue to do it while I love it - and not just to be in it, to win it. I'm not here just to participate. I never have been and never will be."
Hamilton's father, Anthony, told Sky Sports in February he thought his son had "seven to 10 years left in the sport".
The three-time title winner will be a month away from his 34th birthday when his Mercedes contract expires at the end of 2018 and, although he has already indicated he will continue in F1 beyond that point, Hamilton admits he is unsure just how long his career will run.
"It could end soon, or it could go long, who knows how long it's going to go on," Hamilton added. "The cool thing is nothing's planned - it's the unknown.
"So do I feel I can drive as I do now in 10 years' time? As long as I keep myself fit I'm pretty certain I can. Do I want to drive? Time will tell."
Hamilton's unsated ambition was apparent in adversity last weekend in Russia when the Mercedes driver's frustration at being denied a shot at victory was etched across his demeanour throughout.
"Either he's in for an Oscar or he's doing a very good impression of being crestfallen. That impresses me enormously that Lewis is taking so much pain," remarked Sky F1's Martin Brundle.
"He's got three world championships in his pocket, it's not always going to go his way, and it's like he's fighting for his first. His chin is down a bit and he's taken all this as body blows whereas it would probably be very easy to say 'okay, maybe this is not my year - I will win it again next year'.
"He is treating it like it's his first-ever world championship."
Don't miss the F1 Report for all the analysis of the Russian GP at 8:30pm on Wednesday on Sky Sports F1. Natalie Pinkham is joined in the studio by Sky Sports F1's David Croft and Marc Priestley.
