Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has declared that the sport has "never had anyone like me in the 70 years" of its history, insisting he is "built differently" as he targets racing into his mid-40s. The Ferrari driver, who joined the team in 2025, spoke at a news conference ahead of this weekend's Mexico Grand Prix.
Hamilton reiterated his long-standing ambition to compete in a Grand Prix on the African continent. Formula 1 has signed a 10-year agreement with Rwanda for a race starting in the early 2030s, which would mark the first African Grand Prix since 1993. Hamilton will be at least 45 when that event takes place, the same age as Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who turns 46 next summer and has indicated he will continue beyond 2026.
Addressing concerns about age, Hamilton pointed to his reaction time in the previous race, which he said was faster than some of the youngest drivers. "As long as you are willing to sacrifice everything, which I am right now... I am still all in. I will be for the foreseeable future," he said.
On track, Hamilton is currently third in the drivers' championship, one point behind Mercedes' George Russell in second, five points ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and eight ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. The title fight is led by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who is 21 years Hamilton's junior and could clinch his first world championship in Mexico City. Only 31 points separate Russell from McLaren's Lando Norris in sixth place.
After a difficult first season with Ferrari, Hamilton has enjoyed a stronger 2026 campaign, highlighted by a victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June. He said the result proved he can still compete at the highest level. "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," Hamilton added. "Everyone assumed that last year and I have proved everyone wrong. I'll continue to try to do so."
