Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has said he is “built differently” as he considers extending his career into the next decade to compete at the newly announced African Grand Prix. Formula 1 has secured a landmark 10-year contract with Rwanda to host a race at a new circuit near Kigali, slated to debut in the early 2030s.

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Hamilton, a long-time advocate for F1’s return to the African continent, responded to the announcement with a mix of humor and determination. He suggested he may need to prolong his career to take part in this historic event.

Hamilton on age and reaction times

“Firstly, you’ve never had anyone like me here in the last 10 years. So I feel that I’m built differently,” Hamilton declared. Addressing common perceptions about aging affecting reaction times, the 41-year-old Briton challenged these assumptions head-on.

“There are challenges up ahead that I can’t foresee that come with age. But 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’s faster than some of the youngest people here.” Hamilton highlighted the tools and sacrifices he employs to maintain his physical and mental sharpness, insisting, “I’m still all in and I will be for the foreseeable future.”

While admitting uncertainty about competing at 44 against much younger rivals, Hamilton remained adamant about his current competitiveness: “Whether or not I can compete at 44 with a 20-year-old, who knows? But at 41 I can compete with a 20-year-old.”

He also emphasized his unwillingness to continue racing without maintaining top performance levels. “I never want to overstay my welcome in the sense of still not having the performance. I don’t want to be driving around with that really dropped off. My reactions dropped off, my drive’s 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.”

Mercedes battle and 2027 car

Hamilton is currently third in the drivers’ standings and just one point behind teammate George Russell in the hunt for second place. He downplayed the importance of this intra-team battle. “I’m not going to say it doesn’t mean anything, but it’s not something I focus on. I think winning the championship is the only thing anybody must really care about.”

Instead, his focus lies with helping Mercedes secure second place in the constructors’ championship, improving on last year’s fourth-place finish.

Hamilton revealed that the final five races of the season serve as a critical testing ground for Mercedes’ 2027 car development. “I’m really using these five races as a test bench for next year’s car. Spending time speaking with our head of aerodynamics, talking about vehicle dynamics, where we can improve this car, how we can keep the goodness of the chassis, for example, which has been great this year.”

Hamilton’s declaration of being “built differently” underscores his pursuit of excellence and longevity in Formula 1, as he eyes not just championships but also the opportunity to race in Africa’s revived Grand Prix.