Hamilton: 'At the core of me is racing, above everything else'

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Lewis Hamilton's big heart remains firmly entrenched in racing, and shows no signs of skipping a beat anytime soon according to the four-time world champion.

Hamilton's delay in signing a new contract with Mercedes has triggered rumors of his departure from the sport at the end of the season, but the Brit insists his motivation to compete at the highest level of motorsport remains intact.

"There are a lot of different things that motivate me. My desire to win this championship is greater than it's ever been," he told Paper magazine.

"I do all of these different things in my life and I have all of these other interests, but none of this would be possible without racing.

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"At the core of me is racing, above everything else," the British driver added.

"So much time, dedication and sacrifice has gone into getting where I am today and I love what I do. I love the competition and the challenge."

Assessing his chances for this weekend, Hamilton admitted that Mercedes could be left chasing Ferrari at Paul Ricard.

"Ferrari has done the better job lately and is a bit ahead of us, so we need to do more," he said.

The 33-year-old isn't ready to concede defeat to the Scuderia and to arch-rival Sebastian vettal however.

"That would be to show weakness, and my will is not weak," he insisted.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.