Lewis Hamilton drops retirement BOMBSHELL: ‘My career could be over within two years’

Hamilton is hoping to lift his fifth Drivers’ Championship this season but is expected to face a tougher test than in recent years.

Ferrari and Red Bull have both come back for the 2018 campaign with a stronger vehicle and they hope to also challenge at the front of the grid.

Meanwhile, Hamilton is entering the last year of his Mercedes contract and is apparently close to agreeing a new deal.

But the 33-year-old says he will not sign a long-term agreement because he does not want to race until he is 40.

The Brit also claimed that he could actually call time on his career within two years.

”I don’t want to stop early, I don’t want to stop premature that’s for sure but I really don’t know what my time is,” Hamilton said.

”I could probably stay until I’m 40 if I wanted to but I don’t think I’m going to do that.

”I could stay one or two more years but in two years’ time will I still have the excitement that I have now of going into another season?

“I really can’t tell you.”

Hamilton is currently putting the final touches to his preparation for the 2018 season, which gets underway in Australia on March 25.