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# 'Built different' Hamilton claims he could still race in F1 in 2030
- URL: https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/hamilton-f1-career-plans-2030-retirement-ferrari/
- Published: 2026-10-30T08:48:55.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-30T09:20:43.000Z
- Description: Lewis Hamilton feels "still all in" to continue in Formula 1 beyond his current Ferrari contract, as he toys with racing into the 2030s
- Author: Josh Suttill
- Tags: Formula 1, #lewis-hamilton, #ferrari, #primary_homepage_feature

Lewis Hamilton feels "still all in" to continue in Formula 1 beyond his current Ferrari contract, as he toys with racing into the 2030s.

The seven-time F1 champion's present deal with Ferrari runs until the end of next year, but there are understood to be options to extend it through 2028 as well.

Hamilton's future beyond that was always going to be linked to how he was performing on track, and this year he has proved he is still at a race-winning level at the age of 41.

The recent announcement of the African Grand Prix getting added to the calendar from as early as 2030 prompted questions about whether Hamilton – who has long pushed for F1 to return to the continent – would still be on the grid to take part in the event.

And while there is still some time to go before Hamilton needs to properly commit to his F1 future, he has dropped a firm indication that his mindset right now is towards staying.

Even though a deal through to 2030 would make him 45 at that season and therefore at risk of not being at his peak, Hamilton says his career has been one of breaking conventions.

Asked about thoughts on his future in Mexico on Thursday, Hamilton said: "Firstly, you've never had anyone like me here in the 70 years. So, I feel that I'm built differently.

"Of course, there are challenges up ahead that I can't foresee that come with age.

"But along this way, along this journey, there have been so many preconceived ideas about the fact that your reaction time drops off. Did you see my reaction in the last race? My reaction is faster than some of the youngest people here."

Hamilton believes his commitment to training, plus a better understanding of how to keep the right mental approach, means there is no reason his speed would drop off with age.

"There are lots of tools that you can utilise to continue to keep yourself and your mind sharp - as long as you're willing to sacrifice everything, which I am right now," he said.

"I can't say in four years whether I want to continue to do what I'm doing. But I still love what I'm doing now. I'm still all in. And I will be for the foreseeable future."

Hamilton endured a challenging first season with Ferrari in 2025, as both he and the team had perhaps underestimated the challenges it would take to get him integrated at the squad after over a decade with Mercedes.

He made big progress last winter and has been much more comfortable with the 2026 cars – proving that with a victory at the Barcelona Grand Prix earlier this year.

If his current form continues then Hamilton sees no reason why he would not carry on. But he is clear that if he senses being on a downhill trajectory, then it would be time to call it quits.

"Whether or not I can compete at 44 with a 20-year-old, who knows?" he explained. "But at 41, I can compete with a 20-year-old. So, time will tell whether I'm here in the '30s. We'll see.

"But I never want to overstay my welcome in the sense of not still having the performance. I don't want to be driving around with that drop-off - my reaction has dropped off, my drive has dropped off, and my pace has dropped off, which everyone assumed last year.

"But I've proved everyone wrong with that. And I will continue to try to do so."