Sitting alongside Max Verstappen at today's press conference, the world champion was suddenly aware of the age gap.

Whilst we all remember the image of a very young Lewis Hamilton stating his ambition to drive for McLaren, subsequently being taken under the wing of the Woking team, today the world champion was reminded how time has moved on.

Ahead of his ninth season in F1, after 148 Grands Prix, 33 wins and two titles, the 30-year-old was asked if he had any words of wisdom for 17-year-old debutant Max Verstappen sitting behind him.

"I've only just realised, I'm the oldest driver here, the first time," said the Briton.

"I've kind of only just realised it. Jeez," he continued, then turned around to the Dutch youngster. "You were born in '97?" he asked.

As Verstappen smiled and nodded, "Yup", Hamilton laughed: "Jeez. I signed my first contract with McLaren in '97. Bloody 'ell. I don't really have any words of wisdom for you."

Having made his F1 (race) debut in 2007, aged 22, Hamilton was indeed the elder statesman at today's press conference, but not the grand old man of the F1 grid, that (dubious) honour falls to Kimi Raikkonen (35), the Briton merely the fifth oldest driver this Sunday.

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