Piero Ferrari denies Lewis Hamilton concern ahead of first F1 season for the Scuderia

Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari career hit an early bump by crashing during a private test in Barcelona, but vice chairman Piero Ferrari has denied one concern about the Briton.

This year marks the start of a new chapter for Hamilton after leaving Mercedes to become a Ferrari driver. It is the culmination of a long-held dream for the Briton to race in red yet puts just a third F1 team on his CV. Hamilton will even race with a Ferrari engine for the first time.

In a move to get the seven-time Formula 1 champion up to pace running with the Scuderia’s engine, Hamilton has tested the 2023 Ferrari F1 car at Fiorano and also in Barcelona. But his outing at the Spanish Grand Prix venue saw an early end after Hamilton crashed at 124 mph.

Piero Ferrari has zero concerns ‘at all’ that Lewis Hamilton is too old for Ferrari

Ferrari believe a bump caused Hamilton’s crash at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during a private test this Wednesday. The Briton found the barriers at Turn 12 and he destroyed the front of the SF-23, denying new teammate Charles Leclerc a chance to get out on the circuit.

The Scuderia will hope his crash was as a result of Ferrari letting Hamilton push the limits in Barcelona without fans in attendance. But questions also remain ahead of his debut race for Ferrari at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix whether Hamilton’s age will pose a bigger problem.

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After turning 40 in January, Felipe Massa thinks Hamilton’s age could be a problem at Ferrari given the extra lengths the Briton will need to go to just to maintain his fitness. In F1 history only nine drivers have won a Grand Prix after turning 40, with Nigel Mansell the last in 1994.

Yet Ferrari vice chairman Piero Ferrari, the son of Enzo Ferrari, is not concerned ‘at all’ about the possibility that Hamilton’s age will create problems for the Scuderia. Instead, he believes the Briton’s fitness – both physically and mentally – will see him shine with the pride of Italy.

Ferrari told Autosprint: “True, but he is healthy. He is in good shape both physically and mentally. I don’t think [his] age is a problem at all. He accepted the challenge with great enthusiasm, so he is sure of his possibilities.”

Lewis Hamilton is the 12th-oldest F1 driver to win a Grand Prix

While Piero Ferrari has given Hamilton a vote of confidence for his age not being a problem, the Stevenage-born racer will go from 12th to at least 10th in the list of the oldest F1 Grand Prix winners by standing on the top step of a podium. He could break the top seven in 2026.

Should his move to Ferrari pay off, Hamilton can become the first driver since Jack Brabham to win a Formula 1 title after turning 40 years old. Hamilton would also be the first driver to win a title with Ferrari after turning 40 since Juan Manuel Fangio lifted the fourth of his five.