Lewis Hamilton believes that he is “a better driver” now than when he made his Formula 1 debut at 22 ahead of his impending move to Ferrari in 2025.
The seven-time World Champion made his F1 bow in 2007 with McLaren, finishing second in the Drivers’ Championship, missing out on the title by a single point.
He would go on to win the title in a similarly nail-biting final round in Brazil a year later, snatching glory from Felipe Massa after a memorable last-lap, final corner overtake on Timo Glock.
Hamilton will turn 40 by the time he makes his long-awaited debut for Ferrari next year, but he revealed that he still believes his abilities have only gotten better with age.
“Honestly, right now I feel I’m healthier than I’ve ever been,” he told The Times. “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,” he added. “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.”
Hamilton also opened up in the same interview about his struggles with mental health, saying the “pressure” of racing at the age of 13, as well as bullying at school, left him feeling without “[anyone] to talk to.”
Hamilton caused a sensation in February when it was announced that he would leave Mercedes after over a decade to join Ferrari.
The “multi-year” deal will see a much-anticipated meeting between the longest-running and most successful F1 manufacturer joining forces with one of the sport’s greatest-ever drivers, and will also reunite Hamilton with Team Principal Fred Vasseur, who co-founded ART Grand Prix, the team that took Hamilton to the GP2 title in 2006.
After joining Mercedes from McLaren in 2013, the Brit would go on to win a further six titles in seven seasons with the Silver Arrows, most famously amid a tumultuous rivalry with then-team-mate, Nico Rosberg.
In 2024, Hamilton so far has two race wins under his belt, including a memorable win at Silverstone in front of his adoring home crowd.
He currently sits in sixth place in the Drivers’ championship, just 16 points behind Carlos Sainz, the man he will replace at Ferrari.
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