F1 in Baku - Hamilton says he is now more into art than cars

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku, 18 Sept 2025
Reuters

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, Formula One's most successful driver with seven world championships and a record 105 wins, said on Thursday he had sold his car collection and was now more into art.

The 40-year-old told reporters at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that he no longer owned a collection featuring limited edition Ferraris, Mercedes and McLarens worth many millions.

"I don't have any cars any more," said the Briton. "I got rid of all my cars. I'm more into art nowadays.

"If I was going to get a car, it would be the (Ferrari) F40. But that's a nice piece of art."

Hamilton was photographed standing next to an F40 at Ferrari's Fiorano test track when he joined the Italian team from Mercedes in January.

Hamilton, a vegan who has been outspoken on environmental issues over the years, said in 2019 that he had got rid of some of his collection and switched to hybrid or electric models. He had already sold his private jet.

"I don't drive any of the cars that I own any more. I only drive my (electric Mercedes) EQC," he said in 2020 while still at Mercedes.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand, Baku, 18 September 2025
Reuters

This weekend's race in Baku

It's round 17 of the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2025 season in Baku this weekend.

Hamilton said his hopes of a first win for Ferrari this season looked "far-fetched" but he still hoped to stand on the podium at some point in the final eight races.

"A win is a bit far-fetched considering I've been sixth, seventh and eighth for most of the season," the sport's most successful driver told reporters.

"I would love to get a podium for the team at some stage. Charles (Leclerc) has had four or five of them, so I feel optimistic coming into the weekend."

Hamilton is one of only three drivers still on the Formula One grid to have won at Baku's City Circuit, triumphing with Mercedes in 2018, and Ferrari have gone well there in the past.

McLaren's current championship leader Oscar Piastri won last year with Leclerc starting on pole for the fourth successive season.

Hamilton has stood on the podium in every year of his record-breaking career that started with McLaren in 2007 but suffered his first year without a win in 2022 and had another blank in 2023.

The Briton said he had "found a couple of things" after Ferrari's home race at Monza on 7 September and now needed to work on them.

"I really hope that this weekend can be the start of that," he said.

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