Lewis Hamilton has revealed he has no plans to retire from F1 just yet ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.
The 39-year-old has endured a difficult start to the new season, with Mercedes well off the pace amid the dominance of Red Bull.
At the end of the campaign, however, Hamilton will turn his back on the Silver Arrows and race for Ferrari.
The Stevenage-born racer is leaving to pursue a historic eighth F1 crown that would see him move ahead of Michael Schumacher in the history books.
Lewis Hamilton insists he won't be retiring any time soon ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix
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And Hamilton, per the BBC, has now made it clear he has no plans to retire any time soon.
"I am not the oldest driver here. I am going to be racing for quite some time still so it is good [Alonso] is still around," Hamilton said.
"Fernando is one of the best drivers we've had in the sport so for him to continue to be here and continue to have the output he's had just shows what is possible.
"And shows the new era of athlete, what the human body can do and continue to do if you nurture it."
He added: "I never thought I would be racing into my 40s.
"I'm pretty sure I said I wouldn't. But life is such a crazy trip.
"I don't feel 40. I generally feel great."
Some have scrutinised Hamilton for his decision to leave for Ferrari.
But the 39-year-old insists he doesn't need his call to ditch Mercedes 'vindicating' and has blasted back at his critics.
“I don’t feel like I need my decision vindicating,” he said.
“I know what is right for me, and that hasn’t changed from the moment I made the decision.
“There’s not been a moment that I’ve questioned it and I’m not swayed by other people’s comments.
"Even today, there’s people continuing to talk s**t, and that will continue on for the rest of the year.
“I’ll have to just do what I did the previous time (when he moved to Mercedes from McLaren).
"Only I can know what’s right for me, and this (joining Ferrari) will be an exciting time for me.”
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Lewis Hamilton has hit back at his critics ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix
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When asked what he meant by people 'talking s**t', he added: "Just read what's out there."
McLaren driver Lando Norris has also opened up ahead of the race in Shanghai this weekend.
And Norris has praised Hamilton for still competing at such a high level despite entering the twilight years of his career.
"He is one of the oldest guys competing at the top in any sport," he said.
"And to be able to do that at the level he has done and continues to do, you could potentially never see that again in F1.
Lewis Hamilton is looking to win the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend
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"And if you do, it is going to be extremely rare."
Hamilton has a good record in China, having won the Grand Prix there six times in previous years.
His first triumph came back in 2008, with the veteran also securing victories in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
