Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton believes he will have the best time of his life in his 40s. The seven-time world champion will hit the landmark in January next year and be the second driver on the grid, Fernando Alonso (43) being the first, to be racing in his 40s.

The British driver has seen unparalleled success since his F1 debut in 2007. He racked up race wins and pole positions in his late 30s, as evident from victories in Silverstone and Spa before the summer break.

While most athletes leave their respective sports and live their lives as retired professionals, Lewis Hamilton recently said he had different plans. In an interview with Elle, the 39-year-old said he is still a kid at heart.

“Deep down, I’m still the same kid I always was, but I’m much more confident in myself, in what I want and where I want to go. I’m more comfortable in my own skin, enjoying my creativity, whether it’s in music (Hamilton composes), fashion, or sports.”

“That brings me a lot of joy. In our 20s, everyone is a little lost, trying to figure out who they are and what to do. I feel like I have a North Star. I think my 40s will be the best years. I’m going to make them the best,” he added.

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is walking during the driver’s parade- Source: Getty

Lewis Hamilton chimes on traveling the world since his younger years

In the same interview, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said he had been traveling since he was 13, as he had been competing in karting and single-seater racing.

The 39-year-old spoke about the influence of traveling and the impact of different cultures and worlds on his mind.

“Everything is a first time – the first time in Brazil, the first time in Italy… That newness is so special. It’s sad that you won’t have that first time again, because it’s very difficult to have that same feeling,” he said.

“Experiencing different places and especially different cultures has really helped expand my mind and my understanding of the world, how vast it is, and how different people interact,” he added.

He continued:

“At the same time, we’re all human beings and we have a lot in common. I feel like it’s helped me understand humanity better, have compassion, and I think you can be a better person when you have that understanding, as opposed to being in one city or country for many years.”

Lewis Hamilton has often spoken about the importance of traveling and embracing new cultures in his media interactions during F1 weekends. The Brit has himself made a conscious effort to explore the world, including his heritage, as evidenced by his frequent trips to Africa over the last couple of winter breaks, which he shared on his social media.