Lewis Hamilton: “There’s never been anyone like me in the last 70 years”

The announcement by Formula 1 decision-makers that they would return to Africa from 2030 to host a Grand Prix in Rwanda caused quite a stir in the paddock. This is because, ever since the premier class last raced at Kyalami in 1993, there have been several attempts to return to Africa.

One person who has always championed the cause of an African Formula 1 race is Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari star reacted with obvious delight to the announcement from Formula 1 officials. And he expressed his intention to be on the starting grid for the first race in Rwanda. But how realistic is it that he will remain in the Grand Prix circuit given his age?

In the paddock in Mexico, the 41-year-old answered this question with great self-assurance. He explained: “First of all, let me say that there’s never been anyone like me here in the last 70 years. I feel that I’m simply cut from a different cloth. Of course, there are challenges ahead that come with age and are impossible to predict. But along this path, on this journey, there have already been so many preconceptions – such as the idea that reaction times slow down.”

Lewis Hamilton is convinced: it’s all down to training

“Did you see my reaction in the last race?” asked the record-holding Grand Prix winner, before providing the answer himself: “My reaction time is faster than that of some of the youngest people here, so there are plenty of ways you can use to keep yourself physically and mentally fit. I think as long as you’re prepared to sacrifice everything – and I am at the moment – it’s possible. I can’t say, though, whether in four years’ time I’ll still want to be doing what I’m doing now. But I still love it. I’m still fully committed and will remain so for the foreseeable future.”

“Whether I’ll still be able to keep up with a 20-year-old at 44 – who knows? But at 41, I can still hold my own against a 20-year-old. Time will tell. Whether I’ll still be here in the 2030s, we’ll see,” Hamilton continued, but also made it clear: “I don’t want to stick around here too long if my performance isn’t up to scratch. I don’t want to be racing here if my performance is slipping. Last year, everyone was saying that my reaction times, my ambition and my pace had dropped off. But I proved them all wrong. And I’ll keep trying to do that,” added the seven-time champion defiantly.

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