At 40, Lewis Hamilton is entering the twilight years of his F1 career.

F1 Grand Prix of Netherlands - PreviewsLewis Hamilton has dismissed concerns that his age is impacting his performance. The 40-year-old is still waiting for his first podium of the season and has been comprehensively beaten by team-mate Charles Leclerc since joining Ferrari, but remains confident that he can turn the ship around. Hamilton is the second-oldest driver on the current Formula One grid, behind Fernando Alonso, 44, but the seven-time world champion remains a threat at the right end of the grid.

Last year, he claimed Grand Prix victories at Silverstone and in Belgium, and kept team-mate George Russell on his toes. Unlike in stick and ball sports, success beyond 40 is still possible in motorsport. In IndyCar, Will Power (44) and Scott Dixon (45) remain annual championship contenders, and Denny Hamlin (44) contended for the regular season points championship in the NASCAR Cup Series and is among the favourites heading into the play-offs.

Then again, not all elite talents can sustain their success into their forties. Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel are prime recent examples, with both drivers experiencing dips in form in their mid-thirties before calling time on their F1 stints.

Hamilton has no concerns that age is starting to impact his performance, though. “No problem with that,” he declared in Zandvoort. “Maybe it takes a little longer to recover, but I’m stronger than ever.

F1 Grand Prix of Netherlands - Practice

“I have more muscle, which is usually the opposite of what happens with advancing years. But I think I’m far from losing my strength. But maybe in ten years the situation will be different.”

If Hamilton plans to extend his F1 career long beyond the end of his current contract in 2026, he can take some inspiration from Alonso’s longevity. The Spaniard made his debut back in 2001 and still believes that he could add a third Drivers’ Championship title to his collection next year, should Aston Martin nail the new technical regulations.

Alonso has no plans to quit F1, either. “A few years ago, I would say that maybe 40 to 41 was the limit,” he explained in 2024. “Now, after I saw myself last year, motivated and performing well, I was thinking maybe that I can keep racing a few more years.

“This winter, I’ve been exceeding a little bit the expectations in terms of all the physical tests and everything that I did, so I will say that if you are motivated, and if you want to commit, you can drive maybe until 48 or 49, or whatever, or even 50.”