Lewis Hamilton insisted that he will not walk out on his £60million-a-year deal to drive for Ferrari.
Despite a terrible start to his time at the Scuderia, he is planning on competing into his early/mid-forties.
He is now 40 and has a two or three-year contract to drive at the world’s most famous team, where he hopes to embrace immortality by claiming an unprecedented eighth title.
He called his last race, in Spain a week last Sunday, when he finished seventh, one of the worst he has experienced.
Speaking ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, scene of his first win as a rookie 18 years ago, Hamilton also spoke in support of his Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, the French team principal, who is under pressure according to reports in the Italian press.
Vasseur has time for now. But improvements are called for, as the team are 197 points behind McLaren, and patience will snap without an upturn.
Lewis Hamilton says he is committed to Ferrari despite the poor start this season
Hamilton backs team principal Fred Vasseur but performances need to improve
Hamilton said: ‘I have literally only just started with this team, and I am here for several years. I am here for the long haul and there is no question as to where my head is at, and what I am achieving with the team, so there are zero doubts, so please stop making it up.
‘I want to be at the front and we need to bring more performance out of the car. There are challenges but I am enjoying those challenges.’
He added of Vasseur and stories surrounding his future: ‘I was just made aware of it. But it is definitely not nice to hear there are stories out there.
‘Firstly, I love working with Fred. He is the main reason I am in this team, and I got the opportunity to be here because of Fred, which I am forever grateful for.
‘We are in this together, things are not perfect. But I am here to work with the team but also Fred. I want Fred here and I believe he is the person to take us to the top.
‘It is nonsense what people have written. Most people don’t know what is going on in the background. It is not easy. We are having to make changes.
‘There is a lot of work to do and there is pressure because we want to win, but that (Vasseur leaving) is not a discussion at the moment.’