Ferrari legend has worrying Lewis Hamilton concern amid Michael Schumacher comparison
Ferrari legend has worrying Lewis Hamilton concern amid Michael Schumacher comparison
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Felipe Massa says Lewis Hamilton's age might have made him consider not signing the Brit if he was in charge at Ferrari. Hamilton begins a new chapter of his Formula 1 career next year at the age of 40. He has made the move in the hope he can win the drivers' title again before he retires.
It is a feat that was never managed by Massa during his time racing for the Scuderia. He famously came closest in 2008 when he thought he had become champion after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix, until a last-lap overtake from Hamilton on Timo Glock saw the Brit snatch it from him.
Hamilton's credentials are unquestionable and Ferrari leapt at the chance to sign him when it became clear he was interested in a change of scenery. And while Massa admits he would probably have made the same call, he still has reservations about the seven-time champion's age.
The Brazilian said: "If you asked me if I would hire Hamilton, as the head of Ferrari, as a driver - yes I would, without a doubt, because of the talent he has. He is one of the most incredible drivers in F1. "But because of his age, maybe not. Because of his age, if you look at the sport, age matters. And we have to understand how much age is weighing on him in this situation or not.
"I'm talking about myself, these days I need to train much more physically than I used to. It's much harder to recover physically after a difficult race or an intense training session. Age takes its toll in some areas, that's normal. Age is something that has weighed negatively on several drivers, as it did for Schumacher.".
