Hamilton: I got rid of all my cars, I'm more into art nowadays

Hamilton told reporters in Baku, ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, that he no longer owned the multi-million-dollar collection that once featured limited edition Ferraris, Mercedes, and McLarens.

The 40-year-old Briton said: "I don't have any cars any more. 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 next to an F40 at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track when he joined the Italian team from Mercedes in January.

A vegan and long-time environmental advocate, Hamilton had already begun downsizing his collection in 2019, switching to hybrid or electric models, and selling 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.

Hamilton admitted that his hopes of securing a first Grand Prix win for Ferrari this season looked “far-fetched” but said he still aimed to stand on the podium in the final eight races. The seven-time world champion has yet to finish in the top three in his first campaign with the Scuderia since leaving Mercedes at the end of last year.

His 105th and most recent victory came in Belgium in July 2024, while Ferrari have not won since Carlos Sainz, Hamilton’s predecessor, triumphed in Mexico City last October.

"A win is a bit far-fetched considering I've been sixth, seventh, and eighth for most of the season," Hamilton said ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. "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 current drivers to have won at Baku’s City Circuit, having triumphed with Mercedes in 2018. Ferrari have also shown strong performances there in recent years.

McLaren’s current 2025 F1 championship leader Oscar Piastri won last year, with Leclerc P2 after starting on pole for the fourth successive season at the venue, and Mercedes driver George Russell P3. Hamilton finished P9 that day.

Hamilton has stood on the podium in every year of his record-breaking career, which began with McLaren in 2007. However, he endured his first winless season in 2022 and another blank in 2023.

The Briton, who won the Baku race in 2018, said he had “found a couple of things” after Ferrari’s home race at Monza on September 7 and was working to build on them. "I really hope that this weekend can be the start of that," he added.

In a separate interview with French newspaper L'Equipe published this week, Hamilton said he had no plans to retire any time soon and expressed gratitude that double world champion Fernando Alonso is still racing with Aston Martin at the age of 44.