Four athletes, three completely different sports, yet there is an invisible thread that connects them all. Two Formula 1 drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, stand alongside football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and NBA superstar LeBron James. Despite competing in very different arenas – from the circuits of Formula 1, to the football pitches of Europe, to the hardwood courts of the NBA – they have all written, and continue to write, pages of history in world sport. What makes their story even more remarkable is that, despite their age, they still maintain the same desire to improve, the same hunger for victories, and the same determination that has driven them since the very beginning of their careers.
In a recent interview with Motorsport.com, former Formula 1 driver Robert Doornbos offered a thoughtful reflection on the importance of age in professional sport and how these four champions represent an exception to the rule.
The factor of age
According to Robert Doornbos, age in sport is always “a delicate subject.” Athletes such as Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Cristiano Ronaldo, and LeBron James – all of whom are now beyond 40 or approaching that milestone – are proving to the world that age is often nothing more than a number. Their performances show that commitment, physical preparation, and mentality can stretch the boundaries of what is considered possible in a professional career.
Doornbos explained: “LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso: they are all huge names who are over 40 years old and who are still performing. Alonso is still delivering. If he feels even a little bit of competitiveness in the car, then he is there – especially after making such a comeback, even dealing with the back problems during FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.”
For Fernando Alonso, age does not seem to be a barrier. The Spanish double world champion continues to demonstrate resilience and consistency, capitalising on any chance to fight near the front whenever his Aston Martin machinery allows him to do so. His longevity is often cited as an example of how mental strength and fitness routines can prolong the careers of modern athletes.
But does the same apply to Lewis Hamilton? This is where Doornbos drew a line of distinction. While Alonso’s story is one of continuity and resurgence, for Hamilton, the trajectory appears more complex. According to the former driver, something may have shifted for the seven-time Formula 1 world champion after the dramatic finale of the 2021 season, when he came agonisingly close to winning an eighth world title in Abu Dhabi.
Doornbos admitted: “For Lewis [Hamilton] I think it is another story. And maybe Hamilton fans will not like to hear this, but it is almost as if he has lost his identity. Maybe he should retrace what he has achieved. This man changed the sport forever.”
The Dutch former driver went further, suggesting that Hamilton’s struggles might indeed be related to age. He said: “It could be about age, about the fact that you have to recharge yourself once again for another season. And then you have that younger teammate who manages to deliver at exactly the right moments. It is blow after blow after blow. I hope he has a good summer break and that he comes back strong. Age always plays a role. But I think, in terms of nutrition and training, they all do everything possible to keep up. Still, the day always comes when you go past your expiration date.”
Through his reflections, Robert Doornbos highlighted how the careers of great champions like Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Cristiano Ronaldo, and LeBron James embody both the triumphs and the challenges of longevity in sport. On the one hand, they continue to inspire millions with their drive, professionalism, and ability to compete with athletes much younger than themselves. On the other hand, they are constantly reminded of the physical and mental demands of staying at the very top, where every season, and every race, becomes a test of endurance against time itself.
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