Trendy F1 has two sides: on one hand, we’ve got younger drivers born within the twenty first century making their debut in 2025, whereas on the opposite, there are drivers who’re reaching or surpassing the age of 40, corresponding to Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
In skilled sports activities, it was uncommon till not way back to see athletes proceed competing at or past 40 years outdated. Nonetheless, that is not the case. For instance, LeBron James, at 40, continues to be one of many NBA’s strongest and most dominant gamers with the Los Angeles Lakers, whereas Tom Brady retired from the NFL final 12 months at 45.
In Components 1, the phenomenon of drivers over 40 isn’t new, but it surely has made a comeback in recent times. Kimi Raikkonen retired in 2021 at 41, whereas Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are gearing up for a number one position within the 2025 season with Aston Martin and Ferrari, regardless of being 43 and 40 years outdated respectively (Fernando Alonso will flip 44 on July 29).
Inevitably, this opens the door for the Englishman, now driving for Ferrari, to rewrite some information as he has accomplished previously.
Drivers who received a race over 40
Out of 778 drivers who’ve raced in F1, 114 have accomplished so previous the age of 40, however solely 27 have managed to complete on the rostrum (22 if excluding the 5 drivers who podiumed on the Indy 500 when it was nonetheless a part of the F1 calendar).
The newest over-40 driver to complete on the rostrum was Fernando Alonso on the 2023 Brazilian GP. Earlier than that, the final podium for a driver over 40 was Michael Schumacher’s third-place end on the 2012 European GP with Mercedes.
Whereas podium finishes are difficult however attainable, victories for drivers over 40 are a lot rarer. Solely 10 drivers in F1 historical past have received a race at this age, a quantity that drops to eight if the Indy 500 is excluded.
The ten drivers who received a race over 40
– Luigi Fagioli (France 1951): 53 years, 22 days
– Nino Farina (Germany 1953): 46 years, 276 days
– Juan Manuel Fangio (Germany 1957): 46 years, 41 days
– Piero Taruffi (Switzerland 1952): 45 years, 219 days
– Jack Brabham (South Africa 1970): 43 years, 339 days
– Sam Hanks (Indy 500 1957): 42 years, 321 days
– Nigel Mansell (Australia 1994): 41 years, 97 days
– Lee Wallard (Indy 500 1951): 40 years, 264 days
– Maurice Trintignant (Monaco 1958): 40 years, 200 days
– Graham Hill (Monaco 1969): 40 years, 92 days
Fagioli’s report is probably going unbeatable, but it surely’s value noting that he didn’t cross the end line himself. On the time, driver modifications through the race have been allowed, so the Italian began however didn’t end the race, which was accomplished by Fangio. Nonetheless, the victory continues to be thought-about legitimate because it was shared between the 2 drivers.
The final three victories by a driver over 40 occurred in 1969, 1970, and 1994, with Nigel Mansell being the one winner after 1970. Because the British world champion, no driver over 40 has received in F1, however now that Lewis Hamilton is a Ferrari driver, this drought might lastly come to an finish.
Over-40 world champions
If the checklist of race winners narrows to only 10 drivers, the checklist of those that managed to win a world championship over 40 turns into even shorter. Solely three drivers have achieved this feat: Nino Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Jack Brabham.
Nino Farina received his first and solely championship in 1950 on the age of 43, whereas Jack Brabham secured his third championship in 1966 on the age of 40. Fangio’s case is exclusive, as he received his first of 5 world titles at 40 and his fifth at 46, making him the oldest driver ever to win an F1 world championship.
The 2025 season is shaping as much as be extremely aggressive, with the 4 prime groups (McLaren, Ferrari, Crimson Bull, and Mercedes) doubtlessly able to contending for each titles. Final season, Ferrari received 5 races and fought for the constructors’ title till the ultimate GP. This units the stage for Lewis Hamilton to interrupt at the least one of many two information. Who is aware of—he may not solely grow to be the eleventh driver over 40 to win a race (and the primary since 1994) but additionally the fourth over-40 world champion (and the primary since 1966)…
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