Why Hamilton changed his mind about racing in F1 after 40

Hamilton has often joked that he does not want to be the oldest driver on the grid, embracing the continued contract extensions for Fernando Alonso, who at 41 is preparing to keep on racing for at least a few more years.

More seriously, Hamilton has always vowed that he would not want to keep on racing until he is totally burnt out, instead wishing to bow out when he is still fresh and has the energy to focus on other projects. Mission 44, his charity dedicated to improving representation in motorsport, and Ignite, a charity set up with Mercedes also intended to aid diversity, are two such interests that will be the focus of his post-racing life, ensuring he has a legacy that goes beyond his on-track achievements. 

But after Hamilton revealed in a group media interview including Motorsport.com in Austin last month that he plans to sign a new multi-year contract with Mercedes, it led to a fresh look at where he currently stands in F1. His existing deal expires at the end of 2023, by when he will be 38. Even if he went on for only another two years, that would take him close to his 41st birthday, passing a milestone he once scoffed at. 

So what’s changed for Hamilton? Why is a driver who is so determined to make an impact beyond what he does on-track keen to keep on racing?

Hamilton admitted in Mexico last week that he wasn’t sure what had changed his mind on wanting to keep racing after being 40. He mentioned “this narrative of winding down towards the end” as being something he did not subscribe to, and that even with his outside interests, the support of Mercedes to pursue them could keep him energised on-track.

“I’m just in a happy place,” said Hamilton. “I’m a lot more grounded, I’ve got my home that I get to spend time in in the UK when I come to see the team for example, my family come down.

“I have a lot better set-up just all round. And I feel like I can take the team to more championships.”

Hamilton has always made clear that breaking the record for the most championships by winning an eighth title is not something that will define his future, even given the circumstances of his defeat to Max Verstappen last year. He has often talked about the “journey” Mercedes now finds itself on, trying to return to the top after being toppled amid its struggles with the new technical regulations for 2022. Walking away…