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Lewis Hamilton once revealed why he considered NFL legend Tom Brady a ‘real role model’

Originally posted on HITC | By Shay Rogers | Last updated Jan 8, 2026 11:00 AM ET

Lewis Hamilton is now nearing the end of his Formula 1 career, but he still harbours plenty of hopes and ambitions.

Becoming an eight-time champion wasn’t to be in 2021, but he still has a chance of reaching that milestone again. He just needs Ferrari to produce a fast enough car.

That partnership struggled a lot during a troubled 2025 debut season, and the Briton couldn’t find any answers for his lack of pace.

Now that he knows the team and can utilise his experience, Hamilton can set about making positive changes for the future.

It’s about whether Ferrari want to meet him in the middle and listen to what he can bring to them. 2026 has the potential to be a really positive year.

Fred Vasseur has identified Ferrari’s top priority already and is ready to rebuild the trust between the team and Charles Leclerc. They don’t appear to be focused too much on their seven-time champion.

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Lewis Hamilton thought Tom Brady was a ‘real role model’ for his sporting longevity

Hamilton could walk away from Ferrari, but at the age of 41, it would be hard to blame him. The last few years have been super difficult for him, as he has had to adjust to no longer being a contender.

Not many athletes are able to compete at the highest level into their 40s, but the NFL’s Tom Brady is one of the rare exceptions.

He won a Super Bowl at the age of 43 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, marking one of the most heroic sporting stories of all time.

It’s something that Hamilton was able to draw inspiration from, telling the F1 website in 2023 that he admired the American quarterback.

“I think I look at people like Tom Brady, who’s such an incredible athlete and has shown what can be done today,” he said. “He’s the real role model, in that respect, I think, for all athletes to be able to look at.”

Perhaps it’s time for Hamilton to look at Brady, who continued to compete until the age of 45, and realise that he still has plenty of strong years left ahead of him, if he can just find a little more motivation.

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When is the last time a Formula 1 driver won a race at the age of at least 40?

As Hamilton attempts to become the first Formula 1 driver in 31 years to win a race after turning 40, fans are questioning whether he’ll carry on beyond the end of this season.

The last driver to win a race after turning 40 was actually fellow Brit Nigel Mansell, who achieved the feat with Williams back in 1994.

He was also 41 at the time, and only participated in a handful of events towards the end of that campaign.

If it has been done before, it can be done again. Mansell’s win at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix was aided in part by Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill’s mid-race collision, but he still reached the chequered flag first.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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