Hamilton set for 400th F1 race start in 20th consecutive season

Lewis Hamilton is set to make his 400th Formula 1 race start at the São Paulo Grand Prix, becoming only the second driver to reach that mark. Fernando Alonso, his former McLaren team-mate, is due to make his 445th start at Interlagos. Hamilton reaches 400 in his 20th consecutive F1 season, without taking time away from the sport.

At 41, the Ferrari driver has seven world titles, 106 wins and 105 pole positions. His latest pole came at the Mexico City Grand Prix the previous weekend. Speaking at Interlagos on Thursday, Hamilton called the milestone “kind of crazy”. He said he had never expected to reach 400 and still felt young; the number itself mattered little to him, but marking the milestone in Brazil felt special.

George Russell, who spent three seasons as Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate, called him an inspiration and said Hamilton’s 2026 season was probably his best in F1 since 2021. Lando Norris said Hamilton was still giving Charles Leclerc, whom Norris rates among the grid’s best, a good fight in 2026. Norris also thought Hamilton appeared back to front-running form after seeming less keen on the cars under the previous regulations.

Alonso congratulated Hamilton, called his F1 career incredible and said he had been in a competitive position in all 400 races. Kimi Antonelli, 20, said seeing Hamilton and Alonso still compete with hunger inspired him to hope he would be racing at the top at 41.