Ferrari contract could make Hamilton oldest F1 champion in over 65 years

Lewis Hamilton‘s 2025 contract with Ferrari means he is now set to establish himself as one of the true elder statesman of motor sport – and could become its oldest world champion in over 65 years.

He has one further season left at Mercedes, which is yet to prove that it can make a title-worthy car under the current regulations, so Hamilton’s most realistic shot at an eighth world crown looks to be as part of his multi-year deal with Ferrari, which will take him at least to the end of 2026 – the year he turns 41.

Were he to succeed in either season, he would be the oldest world champion since Juan Manuel Fangio, who won his fifth and final crown in 1957 at the age of 46, and become one of only four people to have won a world title in their forties.

In addition to Fangio, Giuseppe Farina and Jack Brabham both conquered F1 in their fifth decade too. The latter won his third title at the age of 40 years and 155 days. As Hamilton turns 40 in January 2025, he would almost certainly surpass Brabham’s record were he to clinch the championship that year and become its third-oldest champion.

Questions surrounding Hamilton’s longevity in F1 began to rise during his 2022 campaign, with the Briton failing to win at least one grand prix in a season for the first time. He eventually finished sixth in the drivers’ standings – his lowest ever placing. Now 38, Hamilton is one of the series’ most experienced active drivers, second only to Fernando Alonso.

But by no means will he intend to fade slowly into retirement, with a fresh challenge at Ferrari. However, he would need to fight on into the 2030s if he is to challenge some of the records set by F1’s early – and older – competitors.

Below, are some of F1’s most significant age-related records.

Oldest pole sitter

Giuseppe Antonio ‘Nino’ Farina

After winning the inaugural world championship in 1950, Giuseppe Antonio ‘Nino’ Farina remained a contender in the following seasons, finishing second in 1952 and third in ’53. The Italian then got off to an impressive start in 1954, when at the age of 47, he took pole position for the Argentine Grand Prix – beating rival Juan Manuel Fangio by eight tenths of a second.

Unfortunately for Farina, Fangio’s Maserati 250F showed superior race pace to his Ferrari, going on to win by over a minute. Fangio would eventually win the title, whilst Farina would suffer from mechanical failures and a string of injuries that would force him out of the championship and into retirement in 1955.

Oldest point scorer

Philipe Etancelin

At 53 years-old, Philipe Etancelin crossed the line in fifth to collect two unlikely points at the 1950 Italian Grand Prix, making him the oldest point scorer in F1 history. The Frenchman had qualified in 16th for the race, but gradually worked his way through the field, with 19 cars failing to finish.

Etancelin would go on to race for a further two seasons in F1 but, behind the wheel of an uncompetitive Talbot-Lago, he failed to make a lasting impression on the series, retiring at the end of the 1952 French Grand Prix aged 55.

Oldest podium

Louis Chiron

Monaco’s first F1 driver, Louis Chiron’s achievements are sometimes forgotten compared to other early world championship heroes, because many of his biggest wins came before World War II. BEven so, at the age of 50, Chiron was still one of the most recognised names in motor sport and showed his pace during the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix.

Driving for Maserati, Chiron finished third behind Fangio and Alberto Ascari, becoming the oldest podium scorer in F1 history. The Monégasque continued to race for a further two seasons in F1, contending seven of 1951’s eight grands prix before briefly returning for his home race in 1955. Now 55, he finished sixth in the Lancia D50, also making him the oldest driver to start a grand prix. 

Oldest race winner

Luigi Fagioli 

Luigi Fagioli claimed his only world championship victory at the 1951 French Grand Prix, or at least his Alfa Romeo did. Ten laps into the race Fagioli, 53 at the time, was ordered to switch cars with team-mate Fangio, whose own car had experienced several mechanical failures. With Alfa’s Ferrari rivals experiencing mechanical issues of their own, Fangio went on to win the race, with a furious Fagioli finishing 22 laps behind and swearing never to compete in grand prix racing again.

As it was his Alfa Romeo that had won the race, Fagioli was classified as the winning driver alongside his Argentinian team-mate.

Oldest F1 title winner

Juan Manuel Fangio

Ending his relatively short but extremely successful F1 career in dominant form, Fangio secured his fourth and final world title in 1957 at the age of 46. Racing for Maserati, Fangio secured four pole positions, six podiums, and four grand prix victories on his way to the championship, eventually beating Stirling Moss by a 15-point margin. Standout drives in Argentina and Monaco gave him an early advantage, but a hard fought win at the Nürburgring ultimately put the title out of reach for the rest of the field.

Fangio returned briefly in 1958, racing at his home grand prix in Argentina and in France, finishing fourth in both races.

Whilst Fangio leads the way, many legendary drivers have continued to win in F1 despite pushing past their prime years.

Oldest World Champions in F1 history

Since the inaugural world championship race in 1950, times have changed, with drivers making their grand prix debut in their early 20s instead of their late 40s. As a consequence, records for the eldest drivers are widely regarded as unreachable, as it would force current drivers to race well into their fifties in order to beat them.

Nevertheless, Hamilton may still be able to catch some more recognisable names by the end of his Ferrari contract.

Here are some of the oldest F1 record holders of the last 25 years.

Oldest F1 pole sitter in 2000s

Kimi Räikkönen 

In the 2018 Italian Grand Prix, F1 veteran Kimi Räikkönen captured the last pole position of his heavily decorated career at the age of 38. Racing for Ferrari, Raikkonen’s feat ended an eight-year wait for a pole position on home soil, with team-mate Sebastian Vettel qualifying second.

During the race itself, a dream start quickly descended into chaos, with Vettel being spun around by the charging Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, leaving Räikkönen to challenge for the win. But by lap four, Hamilton had passed the Iceman, who was unable to respond to the Silver Arrows’ race pace and ultimately finished second.

The rest of the season followed suit, with Ferrari unable to find the upper hand over Hamilton, who charged through the rest of the 2018 campaign to collect his sixth F1 world title – Räikkönen finished third.

Oldest F1 point scorer in 2000s

Michael Schumacher 

In the closing stages of the 2012 F1 season, Michael Schumacher played a vital role in the title race, despite not being involved himself. During a drama-filled season finale in Sao Paulo, Schumacher and his Mercedes looked set to finish a comfortable sixth, with a young Sebastian Vettel behind him.

The Red Bull driver had found himself in a season-long title battle against Fernando Alonso, with just 13 points between the pair entering the final race. A dramatic spin at Turn 1 meant Vettel was on the back foot for the majority of the race, climbing through the order whilst the Spaniard remained in contention for victory.

But with just a handful of laps remaining, Schumacher pulled to one side and waved Vettel through into sixth place, all but confirming his third consecutive world title.

The 43 year-old Schumacher would go on to finish seventh, ending his career as F1’s oldest point scorer in the last 25-years.

Oldest driver on F1 podium in 2000s

Michael Schumacher

Before lending a helping hand to Vettel in his title ambitions, Schumacher also secured his final F1 podium at the 2012 European Grand Prix aged 43 – the 155th of his career. Qualifying 12th, the German took advantage of numerous mid-race clashes and the retirement of Vettel’s Red Bull, ultimately finishing third behind Räikkonen and Alonso.

Schumacher had returned from his retirement in 2006 to join Nico Rosberg at Mercedes for 2010, in an attempt to return the Silver Arrows back to the front of the F1 grid. Other than a ‘pole position’ at the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix (later demoted to sixth due to an engine penalty), his podium at the Valencia street circuit was his best result for the team.

Oldest F1 race winner in 2000s

Kimi Räikkonen

Qualifying in second for the 2018 United States Grand Prix, Räikkonen defied the odds once again, beating Hamilton’s Mercedes to claim victory and breaking the biggest losing streak in F1 history (five years).

A fast start meant Räikkonen was in control of the race by Turn 1, with several cars clashing behind him throughout the first lap, including team-mate Vettel. A well managed strategy under virtual safety car meant the Ferrari was able to hold onto the lead of the race for its entirety, forcing Hamilton to fight for second against the charging Red Bull of Max Verstappen.

His win at the Circuit of the Americas would be the last of his 20-year career in F1.

Oldest F1 title winner in 2000s

Lewis Hamilton

During a 2020 season plagued by the effects of a global pandemic, Hamilton arguably had his best F1 season to date, winning 11 of the 17 grand prix and equalling Michael Schumacher’s seven F1 world-titles.

Commanding drives in Styria and Hungary got Hamilton’s 2022 campaign off to a strong start, before collecting his seventh win on home soil at the British Grand Prix. Fellow Silver Arrows team-mate Valtteri Bottas was the Briton’s closest competitor, claiming wins in Austria and Russia, but still falling well short of Hamilton in the title race.

Ultimately, Hamilton was able to wrap up his seventh world title early, winning by over 30-seconds in a rain-soaked Turkish Grand Prix at the age of 35.