Lewis Hamilton has earned two race wins this season for Mercedes (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Sir Jackie Stewart questioned whether could have made his mammoth switch earlier in his career and not when he was nearing 40 years of age. The three-time champion, 85, sits alongside the icon as the only British driver to have three titles to their name.
With just six races left of the 2024 season, the seven-time F1 champion is nearing his long-awaited switch in 2025 where he’ll team up with Charles Leclerc, who is 13 years his junior. With Hamilton turning 40 before making his debut for ‘The Prancing Horse’ in Melbourne, Stewart said a move of this magnitude in a driver’s career would usually happen earlier on than in this instance, calling it “unusual”.
During an appearance on Racing News 365 podcast, the ‘Flying Scot’ has no qualms about Hamilton’s ability to succeed at despite being 17 years into his F1 career. Pointing out his epic race win at the British Grand Prix in July, Stewart remains convinced of the Brit’s excellence on the track.
“It’s more difficult for him to do it at 40 years than it would have been if he had been 25 or 30,” he said. “But he’s still got the skill, as is obvious at the present time, such as the British Grand Prix this year.” Stewart said he can understand Hamilton’s desire to continue what has been a lengthy F1 career.
“It’s unusual. But at some point he has to retire as a racing driver, and he feels that time has not yet arrived. And I can understand that.” Hamilton currently sits sixth in the Drivers’ Standings with 174 points which is 19 points ahead of his team-mate and 71 points behind his future colleague in Leclerc.
Sir Jackie Stewart said Lewis Hamilton still possesses the skill to succeed in Formula One (Image: Getty Images)
While questions may be asked whether Hamilton can still deliver top results consistently, the man himself believes he’s a better driver now at 39 years old than when he made his F1 debut in 2007. Speaking to , he said: “I’m in such a good place, physically and mentally.
“My reaction times are still quicker than the young guys. I think I’m a better driver than I was at 22. I was just young, energetic and ruthless, but no finesse, no balance. I didn’t know how to be a team player, how to be a leader. Being a good racing driver, it’s not just about being fast, it’s about being the most rounded.”