Lewis Hamilton Responds to Doubters, Cites LeBron, Brady: 'I'm Built Different'

Ahead of the start of the 2025 Formula One season, Lewis Hamilton is ready to show his doubters he has a lot more left in the tank after turning 40 on Jan. 7.

Speaking to Sean Gregory of Time, Hamilton explained "I'm built different" and invoked the names of legends like LeBron James and Tom Brady as examples of athletes who continued to perform at a high level into their 40s:

"I’m the first and only Black driver that’s ever been in this sport. I’m built different. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve had my own journey. You can’t compare me to another 40-year-old, past or present, Formula One driver in history. Because they are nothing like me. I’m hungry, driven, don’t have a wife and kids. I’m focused on one thing, and that’s winning. That’s my No. 1 priority."

James is on his way to another All-NBA selection this season at the age of 40. He's averaging 24.7 points, 8.7 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game in 52 starts for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Brady played six NFL seasons after turning 40. He won an MVP award at the age of 40 in 2017, won two Super Bowl titles in 2018 and 2020, and finished second in MVP voting as a 44-year-old during the 2021 season.

The 2025 season marks a significant change for Hamilton. He will be racing for Ferrari after spending 11 years in the Mercedes family.

Hamilton signed a two-year extension with Mercedes in the summer of 2023 that was expected to keep him under that banner through 2025, but ESPN's Laurence Edmonson noted it came with an opt out after 2024.

Per Lawrence Barretto of F1.com, Hamilton originally wanted a three-year contract and Mercedes only offered one before the two sides compromised on a one-year agreement with an option for a second.

One of the most dominant F1 drivers of all-time, Hamilton's seven championships are tied with Michael Schumacher for the most in history. He has struggled in recent years with just one top-three overall standings finish the past three seasons.

Hamilton's seventh-place finish in the 2024 season was the worst of his career. He will be tasked with bringing Ferrari, which hasn't had a driver win a championship since Kimi Räikkönen in 2007, back to prominence.

The 2025 F1 season begins on March 16 with the Australian Grand Prix.