Speaking to Vanity Fair magazine in an article published on Monday, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion said: “I just think I find it stressful. I try not to do things that don’t add to my life.” While negotiating the busy roads near Nice in his Mercedes smart car, Hamilton told his interviewer: “Look, we’re on these roads, anything can happen.” Later, as the traffic increased, he continued, “This is now stressful for me. This road is crazy. So much going on here. I’ll be back in a second.” Hamilton also admitted he considered quitting F1 after last year’s season finale in Abu Dhabi, when a controversial interpretation of the rules resulted in Max Verstappen denying the British driver an eighth championship. “I don’t know if I can really put into words the feeling I had,” he said. “I remember just sitting there in disbelief. And realizing that I have to unbuckle my belts, I have to get out of there, I have to climb out of this thing, I have to find the strength. I had no strength. And it was one of the hardest times, I would say, that I’ve had in a long time.” Decisions made by FIA race director Michael Masi, who has since resigned, resulting in the slow deployment of a safety car and the advantage given to his fiercest rival, left Hamilton stunned and he did not speak about the incident for weeks. “I definitely thought about whether I wanted to continue,” he confirmed. The Mercedes driver is under contract with his team until the end of next year and said he considered extending his stay in the sport beyond the end of next season. Hamilton has had to settle for fighting to be the best of the rest during this campaign, with his 2021 title rival Verstappen looking on course to retain his crown. But the 37-year-old said the prospect of an unbeaten eighth championship is motivating him to continue in the sport. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about expanding,” he said. “I’m still on a mission, I still love driving, it still challenges me. So I don’t feel like I have to give it up anytime soon.” Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement on the eve of last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, but Hamilton is unlikely to follow suit any time soon. “It doesn’t make me think about my future, but it’s a reminder that I’m at that part of my career where the people I’ve discovered and fought with for so long will start to stop,” he said. “Before you know it Fernando Alonso won’t be here and then who is there? I guess I’ll be the oldest. “But I’m thinking about how can I improve this car, what steps do we need to take to get this team to win again, what is the road map to challenge for another world championship and what do we need to do to get more everyone in this sport . aligned, in terms of diversity’.