Hamilton at 40: Six reasons why F1's greatest has still got it

We all know the trope: when someone hits 40, many feel they’ve missed out. All that adult life up to now working full-time, making sensible life choices, no impulsive decisions.

How to reclaim some of that misplaced youth? Why, buy a Ferrari of course (if you can afford it).

It would be easy to draw the comparisons with the biggest move in F1 history, as Lewis Hamilton becomes a Ferrari driver in 2025, aged 40.

Hold the clichés though, this new contract is no vanity deal – and for the Brit, it’s a new dawn.

Hamilton moved to Ferrari for one reason: to win. Here are six reasons why F1’s most successful driver has still got it, and can flourish at Maranello.

1. British GP victory: showed outright pace and careful tyre management when needed

It might seem like a nostalgic indulgence, but the 2024 British GP was a key factor in demonstrating Hamilton still has what it takes at the highest level.

Starting second behind George Russell in a race set for changeable conditions, Hamilton bided his time in the early stages in the slipstream of his Mercedes team-mate.

Then, when the rain struck, the seven-time champion struck, moving into the lead and dropping Russell behind him.

A lap later though and the superiority of the McLarens showed as both Lando Norris and later Oscar Piastri moved ahead of Hamilton.

When the pitstops shook out, the then-Mercedes driver stayed in touch, showing his deft feel on the intermediate tyre while the inclement weather continued.

“This is our time,” Hamilton was told by his engineer Bono on lap 29, and sure enough when he pitted earlier than Norris, the Mercedes man was able to put the undercut to good use and move back into the lead.

While Norris toiled on the hard tyre, Hamilton nursed his soft compound for the remaining laps, keeping a closing Max Verstappen at bay to win.

This was a true masterclass, demonstrating F1’s most successful driver ever can still mix it with the very best.

2. 2024 Vegas comeback showed Hamilton has lost none of his speed

The Mercedes cars looked promising in practice for the 2024 Las Vegas GP, which made Hamilton’s 10th place grid slot – as a result of mistakes on both his Q3 runs – particularly disappointing.

What followed on race day proved different however. Starting on the medium tyre, the Mercedes drivers methodically moved up the field as others ditched theirs, unable to make them last.

Hamilton was in the lead by lap 13 before he too pitted. Emerging in seventh, he began to pick off his rivals one by one.

Like in Silverstone, it appeared the Mercedes was suited to the cooler conditions caused by racing late in Vegas – and Hamilton put it to brilliant use.

He rocketed to second, finishing the race 7.3sec behind winning team-mate Russell. Hamilton rued what might have been but, as he pointed it out, it showed how he was able to compete. He still had the speed and feel for grip when needed.

3. A new challenge will invigorate Hamilton

By last season’s end, Hamilton appeared exhausted and frustrated by his recent travails at Mercedes.

However, a thrilling Abu Dhabi finale where he raced from the back to fourth – including a last-lap pass on team-mate Russell – demonstrated that when the mood takes him, the Brit loves a challenge.

Therefore, the prospect of taking on an entirely new team and racing culture (plus the hopes of a fervent tifosi in Italy) could well push the seven-time champion to new heights and make his Scuderia stay a success.

He did it before at Mercedes upon joining in 2013, and can do it again at Ferrari.

4. Age will be no issue for Hamilton

Having just turned 40, some critics have said that F1’s most successful driver is now on the downward slope, no longer at the peak of his powers.

The performances mentioned above though show that he still has the pace. Modern technology, data and nutrition have helped athletes in a whole range of disciplines go on for longer than in previous years, with 43-year-old Fernando Alonso still showing he has what it takes in F1.

Hamilton himself has sighted a different inspiration in going the extra mile.

“I think I look at people like [American football star] Tom Brady, who’s such an incredible athlete and has shown what can be done today. He’s the real role model, in that respect, I think for all athletes to be able to look at,” he said.

Hamilton’s current Ferrari deal takes him through to the end of 2026, but he hasn’t ruled out going longer.

5. Mercedes limited his pace in 2024

As Mark Hughes pointed out in in our February 2025 issue, the inconsistent nature of the 2022-onwards Mercedes cars have made it almost impossible for Hamilton to show his best side on track.

“It’s about this generation of ground-effect cars,” he explained.

“Running tiny ride heights front and rear, they do not pitch and dive anything like as much as previous generations of cars. This is really bad news for any driver who relies on pitch to help rotate the car into slow corners.

“Which, together with his braking, has always been Hamilton’s core skill. He would use the weight transfer of late heavy braking to load up the front tyres, begin the turn-in early, then as he released the brakes into the turn the front would respond super-positively, with the rear coming round just enough to give him a neutral balance early in the corner.”

Using his natural technique to get the best out of the car is, to some degree, no longer possible with the current ruleset. However, if the technical team at Maranello can come up with a car which can accommodate Hamilton’s skills, he should be able to fight again.

6. Going up against Leclerc: Hamilton not daunted by taking on another of the best drivers on the grid

Hamilton had his biggest team-mate challenge on Day 1 of being a racing driver: Fernando Alonso.

Back in 2007, the young Brit showed no fear by overtaking his illustrious colleague round the outside of the first turn at his grand prix debut in Australia.

Hamilton led Alonso for almost all of that campaign, a contentious season in which they both ended up tied on points – one behind Kimi Räikkönen – after much infighting.

Through the years, the Brit has proved more than up to the task of taking on the highly rated (at the time) Heikki Kovalainen, world champion Jenson Button, the cunning Nico Rosberg and most recently young superstar George Russell.

His new Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc has long been seen as the Scuderia’s golden boy, outscoring both Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz during his time there.

Hamilton won’t be intimidated though, it’s just another challenge laid before an indomitable driver.