F1 icon Jackie Stewart feels Lewis Hamilton has proven he still has the quality to compete when he joins Ferrari next year, but there will naturally be concerns as he approaches his 40th birthday.

Hamilton’s 10-year stint with Mercedes will come to an end this winter when he leaves to join Ferrari in a blockbuster move ahead of next season.

The British racing superstar had been linked with a switch to Ferrari throughout his career, but it originally appeared as though he was committed to retiring with Mercedes.

However, Ferrari were able to get their man in an agreement that was struck at the start of the year with Hamilton signing a ‘multi-year’ contract.

The seven-time world champion will turn 40 years old before the start of next season and has faced constant questions over his future in the sport.

But his contract with Ferrari indicates that Hamilton is hopeful of still competing at the highest level for at least two more years before retiring.

Stewart, who retired after he won his third F1 World Championship in 1973, feels Hamilton’s age is the only hindrance for his fellow Brit.

However, the Scottish sporting icon feels Hamilton has already proven this year that he still has what it takes to compete with his younger rivals.

“I’m somewhat surprised by that, because of becoming 40 and going into a team that has very recently become very competitive,” Stewart told the RacingNews365 podcast.

“It [Ferrari] went down quite a lot. There have been many management structures within the Ferrari Formula 1 team that have been disruptive.

“They’ve now got a more stable situation around them. And Lewis is seeing, when you go to the Ferrari factory, you’re impressed.

“Hardly any other brand, if you like to call it, in Formula 1, has had anything like the same continuity as Ferrari has had for such a long time.”

He added: “It’s more difficult for him to do it, I think, at 40 years than it would have been if he was 25 or 30 years.

“But he’s still got the skill and talent. That is obvious at present, such as at the British Grand Prix this year.

“It’s unusual [going to Ferrari], but at some point he has to retire as a racing driver. He feels that time has not yet arrived, and I can understand that.”

Hamilton ended his long wait for his 104th race win dating back to 2021 at this summer’s British Grand Prix.

He then backed that up with another victory at the Belgian Grand Prix to propel him up the Drivers’ Championship standings.

The 39-year-old currently sits sixth in the standings, 19 points ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell.