Damon Hill says Lewis Hamilton has finally ‘come to terms’ with F1 decline

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Lewis Hamilton knows he can no longer drive in the same ‘instinctive’ way he did in his 20s, Damon Hill says. At 41, Hamilton is the second-oldest driver on the grid.

Only nine drivers in the history of Formula 1 have won a Grand Prix in their 40s. The last of those was Nigel Mansell at the 1994 Australian GP.

More significantly, it has been 60 years since a quadrigenarian won a world championship (Bruce McLaren). Hamilton continues to pursue a record eighth title but some feel he is no longer at the level required to achieve that feat.

Lewis Hamilton understands that ‘he’s at the end of his career’

Hamilton won at least one race in each of his first 15 F1 seasons before the run came to an end in 2022. In 2025, he went a whole year without a podium for the first time.

These statistics may be taken as evidence of a driver in decline, and Hamilton has been overcome with self-doubt at times. At one stage last year, he even called himself ‘useless’ and said Ferrari should replace him.

When will Lewis Hamilton retire from Formula 1?

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But speaking on the Stay On Track podcast, Hill said Hamilton has now ‘come to terms’ with reality. He knows he’s no longer in his prime, but his demeanour has generally been far more positive this year.

That has clearly been helped by Ferrari’s progress, with Hamilton finally able to end his podium drought at the Chinese GP last month.

“It seems to me that he’s come to terms with the fact that he’s at that end of his career and you simply can’t keep doing the instinctive things you do when you’re 20,” said Hill.

Johnny Herbert says Lewis Hamilton must ‘be honest’ with himself

Johnny Herbert, who joined Hill on the podcast, said Hamilton must recognise when the ‘time’ has come to retire.

Hamilton’s Ferrari contract runs until the end of next year, but there’s currently no indication that it will be his last F1 season.

Indeed, the Briton recently vowed to continue racing until F1 returns to Africa, and that does not appear to be imminent.

• READ MORE: Jock Clear says Ferrari never expected Lewis Hamilton to match Charles Leclerc on ‘day one’

“With everything he’s done in his whole career, even before Formula 1, there’s always been that unbelievable talent that’s always been shining through,” said Herbert.

“The one thing I would probably say if I was close to him is, ‘Be honest.’ There is a point where things aren’t going to be as easy as they once were, your competitiveness is probably not going to be where it once was, and you have to go, ‘I’ve had my time.'”