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Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton addresses Formula E switch rumor

By Asher Fair

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 24: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP walks in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 24, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images,)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 24: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP walks in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 24, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images,) /
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There have been rumors that five-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton will one day try Formula E, especially given his recent outspokenness about “saving the planet”. He answered whether or not this is something that he plans to do.

With Mercedes starting a Formula E team ahead of the series’ sixth season, which is scheduled to kick off in under one month, there have been rumors that Mercedes Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton may make the switch from Formula 1 to Formula E.

Hamilton, the five-time champion who is just a handful of points away from claiming his sixth title, which would move him into sole possession of second on the all-time list behind only seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, reportedly “exchanged some ideas” with Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff about the possibility.

Wolff himself stated that the 34-year-old Briton is “open to it” even with his focus still on Formula 1; his contract with the Silver Arrows Formula 1 team runs through the 2020 season.

But now Hamilton, whose 83 Formula 1 Grand Prix victories place him behind only 91-time race winner Schumacher on the all-time wins list, has shot down these rumors.

Here is what Hamilton had to say about the matter, according to Autosport.

"“I have no interest whatsoever to do Formula E. It’s not something I plan currently to do beyond [F1].”"

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These comments come from Hamilton amid recent criticism that he has faced for some of his social media posts about climate change.

Hamilton, who is sponsored by oil and gas company Petronas, drives fuel-burning cars for a living and jets around the globe to the point where his lifestyle can be considered far more detrimental to the environment than the lifestyles of his fans, still urges his fans not to eat meat and posts messages to social media about how sad it makes him that people “don’t care” about the planet.

Hamilton did become a vegan in 2017 and opened up a vegan burger restaurant in London last month. But his preaching to those whose carbon footprints are still far smaller than his has even led fellow drivers to call out his hypocrisy.

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Formula E is an all-electric racing series, so naturally the self-proclaimed environmentalist should be expected to have at least some interest in competing.

Just look at all the gas he burns during a Formula 1 race weekend and how tolling it is on the environment for him to fly around the world to 21 different countries a year just to do it. Who wouldn’t want to switch to a far more eco-friendly series?

But nope.

“No interest whatsoever”.

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