Lewis Hamilton says he intends to continue racing in Formula 1 "for the foreseeable future" if he remains competitive, addressing questions about his longevity ahead of the newly-announced African Grand Prix in Rwanda. The 41-year-old four-time world champion dismissed doubts about racing into his mid-40s, noting that the earliest the Rwandan GP is planned is 2030. "Firstly, you've never had anyone like me here in the 70 years. I feel that I'm built differently," Hamilton said ahead of the Mexican GP. He acknowledged age-related challenges but pointed to his recent performances, including reaction times faster than some of the youngest drivers. "There are lots of tools that you can utilise to continue to keep yourself, your mind sharp, as long as you're willing to sacrifice everything, which I am right now." Hamilton stressed he would not stay in F1 if he couldn't compete, setting himself the target of challenging for wins and titles through the remainder of the decade. "I never want to overstay my welcome, in the sense of not having the performance," he said.
Hamilton isn't the oldest driver on the current F1 grid, with Fernando Alonso, 45, committed to racing for Aston Martin in 2027. Alonso recently criticized the quality of drivers in the lower half of the grid following a first-lap clash with Alex Albon at the US GP. "The quality of the drivers in the low third of the grid is very low," Alonso said in Mexico. He explained that back-of-grid cars are harder to drive due to less grip and higher mistake rates.
While the two topics aren't directly connected, both Hamilton and Alonso share the belief that age is merely a number when it comes to competitiveness in F1, provided skills and performance remain sharp.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing