Lewis Hamilton has provided an epic response to claims that ‘everyone has a shelf life’ during testing for his new Formula One team Ferrari.

The British driver topped the timesheet for Ferrari in Bahrain on Thursday, marking an encouraging display on the second day of pre-season testing.

Hamilton, 40, a seven-time F1 world champion, ended his 12-year stint with former team Mercedes last year to join Ferrari for the 2025 season.

During his final season at Mercedes, team principal Toto Wolff seemed to suggest Hamilton was past his best after saying ‘everyone has a shelf life’.

Wolff later said the quote was taken out of context – and Hamilton brushed it off in November – but the Briton has appeared to respond again over five months later.

In a fresh interview with Time magazine on Thursday, Hamilton said: ‘Don’t ever compare me to anybody else.

‘I’m the first and only Black driver that’s ever been in this sport. I’m built different. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve had my own journey.

‘You can’t compare me to another 40-year-old, past or present, Formula 1 driver in history. Because they are nothing like me.

‘I’m hungry, driven, don’t have a wife and kids. I’m focused on one thing, and that’s winning. That’s my No. 1 priority.’

Meanwhile, speaking on the second day of pre-season testing, Hamilton said his first month at Ferrari ‘couldn’t have gone better’ ahead of the first race of 2025, which takes place in Australia from March 14 to March 16.

‘How you start is often very important,’ Hamilton added. ‘This past month couldn’t have gone any different and couldn’t have gone any better. Things along the way had to happen, [the crash in] Barcelona had to happen.

‘Every day has been significant and about building foundation. Whilst I mentioned we had to cram a lot in a small space of time, we haven’t rushed it.

‘Long days, but that’s what we’re here for. I think it will pay dividends going forwards. This will continuously be evolving and it’s felt seamless, felt easy in a sense of gelling with the team. I’ve not had to force it and I feel at home.’

Quizzed if Ferrari’s 2025 car concept felt better than the one he drove at Mercedes in 2024, Hamilton added: ‘I think it’s a bit early to say but I am really enjoying the car. We are slowly bonding I think!

‘Yesterday was a so-so day, it was just okay. But we got through all our run plans, we are testing a bunch of things.

‘I’m not doing set-up changes or directing where we want the car to go, whereas today was exploring a bit my interaction with my engineer. So far, I really enjoy driving this car.’