Rivals pay tribute as Lewis Hamilton reaches 400 Formula 1 starts at Sao Paulo Grand Prix

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix represents a milestone for Lewis Hamilton as the Ferrari driver reaches his 400th Formula 1 race this weekend.

It's a number only bettered by his former McLaren team mate Fernando Alonso, for whom Interlagos will be start number 445, but unlike Alonso, Hamilton hasn’t taken time out from F1, and thus his total reflects 20 continuous seasons of intense competition at the very top level.

Along the way he’s won the World Championship seven times, and logged 106 wins and 105 poles, adding to the latter total as recently as last weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix.

That was further proof if anyone needed it that, at 41, Hamilton is still fully motivated and is still able to do what it takes to be competitive.

“It's kind of crazy,” he said at Interlagos on Thursday when asked about his 400th race. “I never ever thought that I would be reaching numbers like that. It's crazy, because I still feel young, and regardless of the things that people say, you saw my pole last week – I still have the pace, I still have the speed, and I still have the dedication, which is most important, and the focus.

“For me, that number is kind of irrelevant. It's beautiful to be able to have that here in Brazil. I've heard of some photographers who have been there for 500 races. At some stage, that's probably where I'll be.”

Alonso welcomes Hamilton as the second member of the ‘400 Club'

“Yes, of course,” said Alonso when asked about having Hamilton in the '400 Club'. “I think, yes, it's a big number. More and more drivers, I think, will join the club with these very long calendars. I think if you race 10 years now, you are more than 250.

“But yes, Lewis obviously has had an incredible career in F1, and 400 races, all of them in a very competitive position. Congratulations to him, and hopefully a good race and a good weekend for him.”

At 24 races a year, new World Champion Kimi Antonelli could join the '400 Club' as early as 2041.

It’s a happy co-incidence Interlagos is the Italian’s 44th start, a number so closely associated with someone who, along with Ayrton Senna, is one of his heroes.

“He's incredible,” said Antonelli. “First of all, how he can still perform at his age, like Fernando at the end of the day. To see him with the same hunger and determination is very cool, and inspirational as well. And it could be a good sign for me. I'm just 20, hopefully at 41, I'll be still here racing, and competing at the top.

“It's incredible what he has achieved. I mean, he has broken so many records and is still doing so. So very happy, and a big privilege to be able to race against him – and hopefully many more battles in the future.”

Antonelli’s Mercedes team mate George Russell spent three seasons racing alongside Hamilton, and he knows better than most just how good he is, and what makes him tick.

“What he's achieved on and off track has been incredible,” said Russell. “He's an inspiration to so many. The fact that he's not had a year off just shows the sort of character he is, and he is definitely built differently to a number of other athletes around the world. But that's why he's one of the best ever.

“He loves racing, he loves F1. He doesn't have much interest in other racing series outside of F1, because this is the pinnacle, and I respect that. I respect [Max] Verstappen on the other side, who's got a lot of interest in other racing series outside.

“There's no right or wrong, but he's still going strong. And this season has probably been his best season in F1 since 2021.”

Outgoing World Champion Lando Norris agrees that Hamilton’s form in 2026 has been impressive.

“It's pretty unbelievable, what he's been able to do for such a long time, even to now,” said Norris. “To see him fighting against Charles [Leclerc], and I think Charles is easily one of the best on the grid, insanely quick, and the fact that Lewis is still giving him a good fight, especially this year.

“I think everyone's enjoyed the fact he was able to give Charles a better performance, not just give his team mate a better performance, but also look like he was getting more out of the car, and achieving better results every time.

“He maybe seemed to not like the last few years as much in terms of the last few years of cars that we had, that kind of regulation. But he seems to look like he's back to normal in terms of fighting at the front, and proving that he's one of the best out there. So I think it's a pretty incredible achievement for him to fight for this long.”

Like so many of the younger generation, Norris is impressed by Hamilton’s career longevity.

“He's a good inspiration for many of us,” he said. “I certainly don't think I'm going that far, but it's a good thing to look forward to in terms of my career. I know I was happy with one championship. But when I look at Lewis, he makes me not very happy to have only won one championship!

“But that's in a good way, that I can look at him and see him at his age, in his form, and it makes me believe more than ever, that I can fight for many, many more years. And that's something I look forward to doing.”