F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton is famous for his passion for racing. With unbelievable racing skills, the Briton has won seven world titles, the joint-most by anyone. However, his stardom extends beyond the paddock due to his social work. Although Hamilton is also popular for his fashion, his social campaigns get global praise. The 39-year-old actively supports social initiatives like equality in the F1, standing against racism, and many more.
However, this goodwill isn’t simply a result of his character; it arises from a long history of enduring mental trauma. Hamilton always speaks his heart out, but he didn’t have this luxury during the early racing days. Thus, he had to fight endless inner wars, unable to share it with anyone. Recently, he opened up about his depression and past struggles, earning widespread praise for helping normalize the act of “opening up.”
F1 Fraternity Lauds Hamilton For Talking About Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues continue to haunt most of the world, and people are suffering in silence. Lewis Hamilton was among those who had to endure hardships alone. During a recent interview with the Sunday Times, the seven-time world champion opened up about his past life. Hamilton made a shocking revelation as he spoke about being depressed at the age of 13. The Briton believes the pressure of racing and bullying at school made him dull in life. To make things worse, he had no one to share this with as he continued to struggle with mental health. Further, Hamilton tried to visit a psychologist, but all in vain, as he stated, “It wasn’t very helpful, but I’d like to try again today.”
Lewis Hamilton’s breakthrough moment came after the murder of George Floyd, as his determination to stand against injustice filled him with emotions. He got on his knees as the tears rolled out, and Hamilton believed it was a weird moment as this was the first time he had cried since childhood. This was the threshold, and Hamilton decided to be the voice for the voiceless. He was adamant about using this stage for a better cause, and it was a more special thing than winning a world championship.
Hamilton’s courage to pour his heart out was acknowledged and lauded by the F1 fraternity, including Sky Sports’s Natalie Pinkham. She uploaded an instagram story with the caption, “Kudos to Lewis Hamilton for speaking about his mental health.” Next was mental health charity Mind’s media manager Joe Levenson, who thanked Hamilton for opening up and sharing his experience. He further explained that opening up could normalize discussing challenges and inherited societal taboos.
Lewis Hamilton Aims To Create A Better Society For The Next Generation
Lewis Hamilton believes in creating a better planet Earth for the coming generation. He is not just complaining about the injustice or the inequality; instead, he takes action. Moreover, Hamilton has a vision to provide more opportunities for people from less-represented backgrounds.
The Briton also launched the Hamilton Commission in 2021, which provided a roadmap for black people looking for a job in F1. He is focused on eliminating racial or gender-based inequality and aiming for inclusive growth.