Lewis Hamilton celebrates his 41st birthday at a unique point in his legendary F1 career as the seven-time world champion looks to overcome a tough first season with Ferrari
13:04, 07 Jan 2026
Everything you need to know about Lewis Hamilton's situation as the seven-time world champion celebrates his 41st birthday.
- An all-time great turns 41: Hamilton celebrated his 41st birthday on Wednesday, 7 January, as he prepares for his 20th season in Formula One, and his second year with the Ferrari team. Only Fernando Alonso (44) is older than Hamilton on the current grid.
- Debut season struggle: Hamilton’s first year at Ferrari in 2025 was often described as a nightmare due to a lack of competitive results and ongoing qualifying struggles. He failed to secure a single podium finish in 24 races, accumulating just 156 points - only six more than rookie Kimi Antonelli, who replaced him at Mercedes.
- Championship ambitions: Despite a difficult start with the Italian team, Hamilton remains publicly committed to his goal of winning an eighth world title. He maintains that his love for racing and the support of his fans keep him motivated to pursue this dream, although his success depends on Ferrari getting off to a fast start under the new technical regulations.
- Contract mystery: Recent reports suggest Hamilton has a multi-year deal that will keep him with Ferrari until the end of 2026, and potentially beyond if clauses are activated. The 41-year-old described his deal as a “long contract” in November, though, hinting that his terms could be longer than the public is led to believe.
- Pressure from below: The impressive performances of Haas rookie Oliver Bearman last year sparked speculation about Hamilton's long-term seat security. With the Essex-born starlet’s contract with the Kannapolis-based squad ending this season, Ferrari may soon be forced to make an uncomfortable decision.
- The Adami decision: Despite persistent communications issues throughout his first season in Maranello, Hamilton has reportedly opted to extend his relationship with race engineer Riccardo Adami. According to AutoRacer IT, the duo will continue in 2026 after meeting for a private dinner after the season finale in Abu Dhabi.