Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver says he ‘is built differently’ amid defiance over extending his F1 career into 2030s | F1 News

Lewis Hamilton insisted he “is built differently” as he continued to rule out extending his Formula 1 career into the 2030s.

After announcing earlier in October that Africa would return to the F1 calendar at some point in the 2030s with a race in Rwanda, Hamilton had said he hoped he would be able to contest the continent’s first grand prix since 1993.

As Hamilton turns 42 in January and will be 45 at the start of the 2030 F1 season, at which point it is not certain the circuit in Rwanda will be ready, it was initially unclear how seriously his comments should be taken.

But asked about the subject on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion said: “I mean, first of all, you’ve never had someone like me here in 70 years (of the sport’s history), so I feel like I’m built differently.

“Of course, there are challenges ahead that I can’t foresee that come with age. But along the way, along this journey, there have been so many preconceived notions about the fact that your reaction time goes down.

“Did you see my reaction in the last race? My reaction is faster than some of the younger guys here. There are a lot of tools you can use to continue to keep yourself, your mind sharp.

“I think as long as you’re willing to sacrifice everything, the way I am right now, I can’t say in four years if I want to keep doing what I’m doing. But I still love what I’m doing now. I’m still willing and will be for the foreseeable future.”

Hamilton’s current contract with Ferrari is set to run until the end of the 2027 season, with the Briton having an option to extend it for a further year if he wishes to do so.

After a successful move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season, Hamilton’s performances during his first year in red raised doubts, at times from the driver himself, that his skills were declining, but he has returned with a much-improved 2026 season, which included a memorable victory in Barcelona.

Hamilton continued: “Whether or not I can compete at 44 with a 20-year-old, who knows? But at 41, I can compete with a 20-year-old. So time will tell if I’m here in the 2030s, we’ll see.

“But I never want to overstay my welcome in terms of under-performing.

“My reaction has gone down, my drive has gone down and my pace has gone down, which is what everyone assumed last year. But I’ve proved everyone wrong with that and I’m going to keep trying to do that.”

Hamilton’s focus on the constructors’ championship, not the drivers’

While Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli will seal the drivers’ championship this weekend with four races to go, Hamilton is part of an extremely close four-way battle for second place in the standings.

Antonelli’s team-mate George Russell is in second place, one point ahead of Hamilton, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen five points further back and Charles Leclerc’s fellow Ferrari three points adrift.

Hamilton insists his focus is to ensure Ferrari seal second in the constructors’ championship, in which they have 119 points ahead of Red Bull and McLaren, with Mercedes a distant 133 points ahead.

“I’m not going to say (second in the drivers’ championship) doesn’t mean anything, but it’s not something I focus on,” Hamilton said. “Winning the championship is the only thing any of us really care about.

“Maybe some people care about the other positions, but for me, my only focus is to make sure we secure second place in the constructors’ championship, because the team deserves it.

“It’s a big boost from last year and it’s really something we can build on for next year.

“As far as finishing second, third, fourth, you want to finish first.”

“The car should be good here”

Hamilton hopes Ferrari can deliver a strong weekend in Mexico, where many believe their engine’s turbo element, which is smaller than that of their rivals, could be an advantage at high altitudes.

Asked about Ferrari’s chances, Hamilton said: “Someone just said it should be good for our car, and I really have no idea.

“I mean, everybody’s going to have more downforce down here. It’s going to be an unusual experience for all of us because it’s like 25 or 30 percent less downforce than the last time we drove here.

“So if we can get the tires on … the car should be good here.

“And since we have high altitude, hopefully the straight line speed won’t be affected as much as it is in some of the other places where the drag at sea level is significant.

“So I’m hoping we’re able to build on the strong performance we had last year and bring that into this weekend.”

Sky Sports F1 Mexico City GP live schedule

Friday, October 30
18:00: First practice of the Mexican Grand Prix (session starts at 18:30)*
20:00: F1 show
21:00: Press conference of the team bosses
21:30: Second Practice of the Mexican Grand Prix (session starts at 22:00)*

Saturday, October 31
17:15: Third Practice of the Mexican Grand Prix (session starts at 18:30)
20:00: Mexican Grand Prix qualifying preparation
21:00: MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
11:00 p.m.: Ted’s qualifying notebook

Sunday 1 November
17:00: Race 3 of the F1 Academy
18:30: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP Preparation
20:00: MEXICO CITY Grand Prix*
22:00: Checkered flag: Mexico GP reaction
11:00 p.m.: Teddy’s Notebook

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 heads south for the second leg of the Americas triple with the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime