Lewis Hamilton is facing a challenging start to his Ferrari career. Is this due to his adaptation to the car, or does his age play a role?
Formula 1 is increasingly dominated by younger drivers, but several have successfully raced into their 40s. This article examines these drivers from the 21st century to see what insights they offer regarding Hamilton.
Evaluating F1 Drivers Who Competed in Their 40s
Michael Schumacher
Kicking off our list is the legendary Michael Schumacher. After achieving everything with Ferrari, the seven-time World Champion seemed to have retired for good until Mercedes announced their entry into F1, prompting him to return for one final stint.
At the time, Schumacher was 40, and the competitive landscape had shifted. Prior to joining Mercedes, his performance was unparalleled—never finishing below third in 16 full seasons (excluding a disqualification in 1997) and winning a minimum of five races in nearly all his seasons from 1994 to 2004.
However, his results declined at Mercedes. Schumacher only achieved one podium finish in three years, with his average finishing position deteriorating from 5.44 at Ferrari to 8.65 in his first season with Mercedes. Although he slightly improved in 2011, he averaged only a 10th-place finish in his final year. Furthermore, he often found himself outperformed by teammate Nico Rosberg, scoring significantly fewer points than him across the board.
Pedro de la Rosa
Pedro de la Rosa raced just 20 times after turning 40 and didn’t score any points during that time. While Schumacher was securing titles, De la Rosa typically found himself further down the grid. His average finishing position dropped from around 10th during his initial stint from 1999 to 2002 to a disappointing 19th upon his return in 2012, partly due to his team, HRT, struggling in performance against his teammate.
Kimi Raikkonen
Another World Champion who continued racing into his 40s was Kimi Raikkonen, who was 42 at his last race. In 2019, he crossed the 40 mark, finishing 12th that year, but his results declined afterwards. His best finish that year was fourth, which fell to ninth in 2020 as his team, Alfa Romeo, lost competitiveness. He also had a drop-off in average finishing positions, consistently finishing below 10th for the first time in his career.
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso, the most seasoned driver in Formula 1 history, turned 40 on July 29, 2021, and many believed he had not lost any speed. Returning with Alpine, he managed to outperform his teammate Esteban Ocon initially and even secured P9 in the 2022 championship. In 2023, he excelled with Aston Martin, achieving eight podium finishes, but the team’s performance waned as the season progressed, leaving him among the few yet to score points this year.
What Lies Ahead for Lewis Hamilton?
An intriguing aspect of Hamilton’s later career is that he stands as the first driver this century competing in his 40s for a top-tier team. Unlike Schumacher at Mercedes or De la Rosa at HRT, Hamilton races for Ferrari, where expectations are elevated. So far, he has struggled, with Charles Leclerc, 13 years younger, outpacing him consistently.
Hamilton has only qualified ahead of Leclerc once this season and has trailed him in races apart from clinching a sprint victory in China. While it’s premature to label Hamilton a ‘has-been,’ the combination of his Ferrari struggles and recent performances at Mercedes raises concerns. Previously, he had only been outperformed by his teammate on two occasions; that figure has since doubled, suggesting the emergence of a troubling trend as his time in Ferrari unfolds.
