Hamilton says F1 has "never had anyone like me" and plans to race into his mid-40s
Lewis Hamilton said he is unlike any driver Formula 1 has seen and reaffirmed his intention to continue racing into his mid-forties at a news conference before this weekend's Mexico Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari in 2025, made the comments ahead of the Mexico event.
Hamilton said he wants to keep competing to fulfil a long-standing dream of racing in Africa and pointed to recent developments for the continent. F1 has signed a 10-year deal with Rwanda starting in the early 2030s, which will be the first race on the African continent since 1993. Hamilton is 41 and will be at least 45 when that race takes place, and he told reporters he should be considered a special case.
On his place in the sport he declared that F1 had "never had anyone like me in the 70 years" of the sport and that he felt like he was "built differently". He acknowledged age brings uncertainties, saying: "Of course there are challenges up ahead that I can't foresee that come with age. But along this journey there have been so many pre-conceived ideas like that your reaction time drops off," and added: "Did you see my reaction time in the last race? It was faster than some of the youngest people here."
Hamilton addressed his commitment to preparation and sacrifice, stating: "As long as you are willing to sacrifice everything, which I am right now – I can't say in four years whether I will want to continue doing what I'm doing – but I am still all in. I will be for the foreseeable future." He also reflected on a longer-term possibility, saying: "Time will tell whether I'm here in the 2030s. I never want to overstay my welcome in the sense of not having the performance," and added: "I don't want to be driving around with that having really dropped off. "Everyone assumed that last year and I have proved everyone wrong. I'll continue to try to do so."
Hamilton is currently battling to finish second in the drivers' championship this season and is in a fight with four other drivers to end the campaign behind runaway leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes. The Mercedes driver is 21 years Hamilton's junior. Hamilton struggled during his first season with Ferrari but has enjoyed a more positive campaign this year, including victory in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June.
Kimi Antonelli is to miss Mexico media day with illness.
Hamilton made these remarks immediately before the Mexico Grand Prix and remains in contention to finish second in the drivers' championship this season.