Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time Formula One champion, has openly discussed his long battle with depression, which began at a young age due to the pressures of pursuing a career in motor racing and being subjected to bullying at school. In an interview with The Times, the 39-year-old shared how these experiences shaped his mental health struggles over the years.
“I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to,” Hamilton said. “I’ve struggled with mental health through my life, depression from a very early age when I was, like, 13 … when I was in my twenties I had some really difficult phases.”
Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut in 2007 at the age of 21, becoming the first Black driver in the sport’s history. He won his first championship the following year and equaled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles in 2020. Reflecting on his career, the British driver noted that he feels more mature now compared to his earlier years in the sport.
Britt also shared that his path to self-improvement includes practices like silent retreats and reading self-help books. He explained, “You’re learning about inherited behaviors from your parents, identifying patterns, and understanding how you can change them. What might have angered me before doesn’t affect me the same way now. I’ve become much more composed and refined.”
#F1 | Lewis Hamilton for The Sunday Times Style:
“When I was in my twenties I had some really difficult phases. I mean, I’ve struggled with mental health through my life.”
“Depression. From a very early age, when I was, like, 13. I think it was the pressure of the racing and… pic.twitter.com/E5hBfshfEr
— deni (@fiagirly) September 28, 2024
Hamilton continued: “I was just young, energetic, and ruthless, but no finesse, no balance. I didn’t know how to be a team player, how to be a leader. Being a good racing driver, it’s not just about being fast, it’s about being the most rounded. When I study the legends, they’re spread between small percentages, so it’s the whole package – what do they speak for, stand for? – that’s what I look at. I look to Ayrton Senna and Nelson Mandela, and those are the two people gelled together that I want to be.”
Last week, Hamilton stated that “things are cool with the team,” despite expressing frustration over Mercedes’ strategy during the Singapore Grand Prix on Sept 22. He had wanted to start the race on medium tires, but Mercedes opted for softs. Mercedes technical director James Allison later admitted the error and assured fans of a “significant” car upgrade ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Texas on Oct 20.
Hamilton is set to join Ferrari next season, displacing Carlos Sainz from his seat who will race for Williams from 2025.
Read More: Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Exit: 5 Moments That Made the Australian a Popular F1 Driver
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
