F1 News
Milestones and records Hamilton could hit after signing Ferrari contract
Lewis Hamilton's multi-year deal with Ferrari means the seven-time World Champion will be on the grid until at least the conclusion of the 2026 season. That's at least three more years of Formula 1 racing, which will take him to a month short of his 42nd birthday. This opens up the possibility of him taking several more records, though a lot depends on the longevity of his rival, Fernando Alonso.
400 Grands Prix now within reach
Fernando Alonso will become the first driver to compete in 400 Grands Prix during the 2024 F1 season, presuming he doesn't miss more than two events and the full 24-race calendar is completed. Hamilton is some distance behind the Aston Martin driver, though he will overtake Kimi Raikkonen for second place towards the end of 2024. With the Brit having two more seasons beyond at Ferrari, he will surpass the 400 milestone in 2026, assuming he doesn't miss more than four races in that period.
Whether he takes the top spot on the all-time list depends on Alonso. If the two-time World Champion continues in 2025, then Hamilton will need to continue until 2027 to take the record, and so on. The same can be said for Km raced and laps raced.
British drivers for Ferrari
British drivers have a rich history in Formula 1. Ferrari have a rich history in Formula 1. But the two finding success together has been rare. The only Brits to win races with Ferrari are John Surtees, Mike Hawthorn, Nigel Mansell, Tony Brooks, Peter Collins and Eddie Irvine. Irvine was the last driver to do so in 1999.
Therefore, if Hamilton finds success with Ferrari, he will become the first British driver in over a quarter of a century to win for Ferrari. If he was to win five or more races, then Hamilton would become the most successful British driver wearing red. Hamilton needs the same number of pole positions to start from P1 more times than any other British Ferrari driver. It's a little bit of a different story in terms of podiums. With Michael Schumacher as a teammate in the late 1990s, Irvine stood on the podium 23 times.