Sir Jackie Stewart Is “Surprised” by Lewis Hamilton Going to Ferrari at 40

Sir Jackie Stewart Is “Surprised” by Lewis Hamilton Going to Ferrari at 40

Lewis Hamilton will end his 12-year association with Mercedes’ F1 team to join Ferrari in 2025. It is being billed as one of the, if not the, biggest driver transfer in the sport’s history. However, legendary F1 driver Sir Jackie Stewart cannot help but feel surprised.

Stewart appeared on an episode of the Racing News 365 podcast, where he admitted that Hamilton’s age was a factor in him being surprised. “Because of being 40, and going into a team that at present has become… very competitive,” he said.

However, competition is what Hamilton was looking for. He has seven world championships and missed out on his eighth by the narrowest of margins in 2021. Since then, Mercedes (where he won six titles) has not been fast enough for him to compete at the front.

Hamilton saw Ferrari as the ideal place to win his eighth crown. The Maranello-based outfit has also not won a Championship since 2008. A legendary driver like Hamilton moving would give the Tifosi hope that glory days aren’t too far away.

At the same time, Stewart, a three-time F1 world champion, feels Ferrari could be too ‘disruptive’. He spoke about Ferrari’s legacy and how it has always been one of the most consistent teams in F1 history. However, Hamilton would find it difficult to make an impact there at the age of 40, Stewart insisted.

Hamilton still has the skill

Stewart has his doubts, but by no means did he dismiss Hamilton’s chances of succeeding at Ferrari. He added that Hamilton’s ‘skill and talent’ is still top-notch, and recalled his incredible drive at the 2024 British GP, which made him the first driver in F1 history to win nine races in the same circuit.

Hamilton also became the first driver to win a race after getting over 300 Grand Prix starts. Hence, longevity would not be a problem for Hamilton. All the Stevenage-born driver needs is a car capable of fighting for the world championship, and he will be right there.

Post Edited By: Aishwary Gaonkar
Lewis Hamilton Sir Jackie Stewart

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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