Lewis Hamilton has made a shocking revelation about facing depression and mental health issues at the very young age of 13.
The F1 legend has been part of the sport since 2007 and in that time has achieved the status of an icon.
The driver has achieved a lot in the sport over the years, including being the most successful driver ever behind the wheel of an F1 car. He’s a seven-time world champion, his career glittered with over 100 wins.
During all of this, one thing that has stood out has been the incredible level that he’s performed at from the very first season.
Hamilton was a title contender in his very first season in F1 and has been at the front of the grid since then. In a conversation with The Times, Hamilton opened up about how things had not been as easy for him as he has gone through periods of depression in his life, including at just 13 years old. He said,
Trending“When I was in my 20s, I had some really difficult phases. I mean, I’ve struggled with mental health through my life. [I’ve had] depression. From a very early age, when I was, like, 13. I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to.”
Asked if he had sought professional help, Hamilton said,
“I spoke to one woman, years ago, but that wasn’t really helpful. I would like to find someone today.”
One of the ways he tried to calm himself down was by working out, Hamilton added. Talking about one of the things that helps him a lot is going for morning runs, he said,
“I would struggle initially to calm my mind. But it’s a really great way of getting in touch with myself, my inner feelings, understanding what I can do.”
Hamilton has driven for two teams, McLaren and Mercedes. He would be moving to a third in 2025, as he starts his possibly final stint in the sport with Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton issues statement after criticism for Mercedes’ Singapore strategy
Lewis Hamilton released a statement clarifying he was in agreement with the team’s tire strategy in Singapore. The British driver started the Singapore GP on soft tires, contrary to the approach taken by everyone else in the top 10.
Later, in a Petronas event, Hamilton claimed he was against using the soft tire and wanted to start the race on the medium tire. Following this, Mercedes faced a lot of criticism from pundits and fans. Hamilton recently posted a statement on Instagram saying,
“I know there has been a lot of chat around the last one and our strategy in Singapore which just didn’t work. When that happens it’s natural to be frustrated and easy for me to speak out in that frustration.”
He added,
“We knew starting on soft tyres was a bold and risky move but one that could give us an advantage at the start and I ultimately agreed with that recommendation. We also miscalculated what others might do.”
Lewis Hamilton now has 6 races left with Mercedes, and the driver will be hoping to make the most of it.