Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton does not rule out that he will remain among the drivers of the Formula 1 World Championship when it returns to Africa in the 2030s, confirming Thursday that his response speed is still comparable to the response speed of a driver twenty years younger than him.
This month, Formula 1 announced the signing of a 10-year agreement to host Rwanda for the African Grand Prix, the first race the continent has witnessed since 1993, something that Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, strongly defended.
When asked if he would still be on the grid by then, the Ferrari driver confirmed that he was still fully committed to continuing his Formula 1 career.
“First, there has never been someone like me here in 70 years,” Hamilton told reporters before the start of the Mexican Grand Prix. “I feel different from others.”
He added: “Did you see my reaction in the last race? She was faster than some of the younger drivers here. There are many tools you can utilize to maintain your mental and physical fitness.”
He continued: “I still love what I do now.” I remain fully committed, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. I can compete with a 20-year-old when I'm 41. "Time will tell if I'll still be here for the next decade, but we'll see."
The Briton also made it clear that he would not continue if his performance declined.
He said: “I never want to stay for a long time without performing well. “I don’t want to continue driving when my response speed decreases, my driving level deteriorates, and my speed decreases.”
But Hamilton said his immediate priority was to use the final five races of the season as a "testing ground" for Ferrari next year, while helping the team secure second place in the constructors' championship.
He said: “I think winning the championship is the only thing that really matters to all of us. "Maybe some people will be interested in other centers."
Hamilton ranks third in the overall drivers' standings with 241 points, one point behind Mercedes driver George Russell.
He said: “My only focus is to ensure that I get second place in the constructors’ championship. Because I think the team deserves it.”
Hamilton confirmed that he is working with Ferrari's aerodynamic and vehicle dynamics departments to maintain the strengths of the car's current structure while addressing its weaknesses, especially in straight-line performance.
He said: “If we had been able to keep up with these drivers on straight tracks, we would have competed for a more advanced position. But this may happen next year. This is what we seek.”
Mercedes driver George Russell said that one difficult season in the Formula 1 World Championship will not define his career, stressing that the time factor is still on his side.
The Briton started the current season as the favorite to win the crown, but lost to his teammate Kimi Antonelli, who is preparing to clinch the title in Mexico City on Sunday.
“Honestly, I probably learned more about myself this year than I wanted to,” Russell said Thursday, admitting that Antonelli, who will become the first Italian champion in 73 years, was performing better.
He added: “But I remind myself that I am 28 years old. I see Lewis (Hamilton) still performing excellently at 41 years old, and Fernando (Alonso) at 44 years old. Lewis won most of his titles while in his 30s. This year will not define my career as a whole in any way.” Ferrari driver Hamilton is third in the drivers' championship standings, one point behind Russell.
While Antonelli (20 years old) won nine of the 18 races this season, Russell achieved three victories, and his season was characterized by bad luck, after he had great times in certain races, then his performance deteriorated in the next race.
He also confirmed that his natural driving style was affected by “some factors” related to the new era of power units and high tire pressure, especially in the rear of the car. He said: “This will not break my resolve, but on the contrary, it will make me stronger.” “I am very proud of my resilience and the way I recovered from the difficult moments I went through.”
He added: “During my worst moments this season, I was coming back very strong, and then giving a bad performance after running a good race.”
He continued: “But I spent more years of my life in racing than away from it, and I achieved many more years of success than years that could be considered a relative failure.”
He continued: “Unfortunately, this season came for me at a time when I desperately needed to be at my best, but that does not mean in any way the end of my career. “I still have another 12 to 15 good years ahead of me.”
Mercedes president Toto Wolff expressed his confidence in Russell's return to his usual level, saying that the current car was not suitable for the driver, but next year will be a new beginning.
