Lewis Hamilton

Akshita Patel

EXPLAINED: Why Lewis Hamilton Called Michael Jordan His “Hero” But LeBron James The “GOAT”?

Lewis Hamilton, a GOAT in his sport, Formula One, has long been a vocal admirer of some of the greatest athletes in the world. He is, in fact, friends with a lot of the greatest athletes of the generation, including Tennis legend Serena Williams. Many sportspersons in the past turned up to support Hamilton in various Grand Prix as well.

As a matter of fact, Lewis Hamilton grew up as an avid sports lover. Apart from racing, the Briton was good at basketball and remote control car racing as well. But the love for racing pushed him into Formula One, where he became a legend. Just in case you’ve ever wondered about Hamilton’s inspiration from the sporting world, We’ve got you covered.

   

Lewis Hamilton Jumps In LeBron James Vs. Michael Jordan Infamous GOAT Debate!

Lewis Hamilton, LeBron James
Lebron James and Lewis Hamilton caught up on Monday following the Monaco GPCredit: Instagram / @kingjames

In every sport, there exists a greatest of all time (GOAT) rivalry. For instance, in the NBA, the debate about the greatest icon of the sport between Michael Jordan and LeBron James has been perpetuated for years. The fans of the two sides are always at loggerheads with each other, trying to prove why one is better than the other. Even Formula One great Lewis Hamilton jumped into the debate four years ago. In 2018, LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers were trashed by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals. However, James, despite being on the losing side, emerged as the top performer of the contest. Meanwhile, Hamilton shared the video of LeBron on his Instagram and referred to him as the “GOAT.”

Interestingly, Lewis Hamilton also expressed his admiration for Michael Jordan. Years later, in 2022, the British driver shared a picture of his dad, Anthony Hamilton, posing with Jordan via his Instagram story and captioned it as, “Two of my hero’s.” Hamilton’s contrasting comments confused the fans as to who the racing driver sides with. But it’s important to remember that each athlete is unique and great in his own way. While Lewis considered LeBron James the “GOAT,” it does not mean he has to hate Michael Jordan. As a sportsperson himself, the Briton understands the importance of respect and thus has refrained from taking sides in the past. As it stands, both the basketball legends are Hamilton’s inspiration, and he has mutual admiration in his heart for the duo.

Hamilton Issues Warning To Mercedes As Focus Shifts To 2024 Season

Lewis Hamilton
Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

Amid an underwhelming 2023 season, Mercedes has flipped the page to shift focus to 2024. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton has warned the team to be extra careful as they begin W15 car development. He believes that the decision made during this early stage of development will be critical for their future trajectory.

Lewis Hamilton further confirmed that his and George Russell’s inputs are being listened to by the engineers back at the factory in Brackley. He is, in fact, planning to visit the factory in the coming weeks to overview the structure built till now. The British driver believes that Mercedes still has what it takes to be champions again and will surely fall back into contention in 2024 if headed in the right direction.