Jackie Stewart points out unusual thing about Hamilton’s Ferrari move | F1 | Sport

Sir Jackie Stewart wondered whether Lewis Hamilton could have made his huge move to Ferrari earlier in his career and not when he was almost forty years old. The three-time Formula 1 champion, 85, joins the Mercedes icon as the only British driver to have three titles to his name.

With just six races remaining in the 2024 season, the seven-time F1 champion is nearing his long-awaited move to Ferrari in 2025, where he will team up with Charles Leclerc, who is thirteen years his junior. With Hamilton turning 40 before making his debut for ‘The Prancing Horse’ in Melbourne, Stewart said a move of this magnitude in a driver’s career would usually come sooner than in this case, calling it “unusual”.

During an appearance on the Racing News 365 podcast, the ‘Flying Scot’ has no qualms about Hamilton’s ability to succeed at Ferrari despite being 17 years into his F1 career. As he points to his epic race victory at the British Grand Prix in July, Stewart remains convinced of the Briton’s excellence on the track.

“It’s harder for him to do this at 40 than if he had been 25 or 30,” he said. “But he still has the skills, as is clear at the moment, like the British Grand Prix this year.” Stewart said he can understand Hamilton’s desire to continue his long F1 career.

“It’s unusual. But at some point he has to retire as a driver and he feels like the time has not yet come. And I can understand that.” Hamilton is currently sixth in the drivers’ standings with 174 points, which is 19 points ahead of his teammate George Russell and 71 points behind his future colleague in Leclerc.

While questions may be asked as to whether Hamilton can still consistently deliver top results, the man himself believes he is a better driver now at the age of 39 than when he made his F1 debut in 2007. Speaking to The Sunday Times, he said he: “I’m in such a good place, physically and mentally.

“My reaction times are still faster than the young guys. I think I’m a better driver than when I was 22. I was just young, energetic and ruthless, but no finesse, no balance. I didn’t know how to are.” a team player, how to be a leader. “If you’re a good driver, it’s not just about being fast, it’s about being the most complete.”