Lewis Hamilton has been a part of Formula 1 for over 15 years. The Briton has driven with a lot of world-class outfits over the course of his long career. The Mercedes driver has won a record seven world championships and recently secured his 300th GP start this season. Lewis has also been one of the most competitive F1 drivers and the most successful, with 103 victories in F1.
At the same time, the Briton has been a part of some of the fiercest rivalry in the modern F1 era and has showcased complete domination in the sports. Despite his on-field brilliance, Hamilton has constantly fought his critics, who spoke ill of Hamilton numerous times over the course of his career. However, the Mercedes driver has never refrained from answering back and supporting his former drivers from F1 experts who have a history in the sport.
Recently, Lewis Hamilton claimed that he would not turn out to be a negative ex-driver who spoke ill of the current drivers in Formula 1. Hamilton is 37-year-old, and his F1 future has been a burning issue for the past year or so. However, the Briton clarified that he had no intention of leaving the motorsport as he was still enjoying it. Lewis told that he was still a man on the mission to achieve his eighth F1 title. Talking to Heikki Kovalainen on ViaPlay, Lewis shared that he would always be aligned with the sport and would always be watching.
Hamilton Wants To Speak Positively Of F1 Driver When He Retires
Lewis Hamilton aims to be positive to the drivers out there, no matter how good or bad. The Briton suggested that it is quite difficult for a driver at the start, and it could suck for spectators. He pointed out that some days can be good while other days people could be quite negative about the driver. Lewis added, “I don’t ever want to be one of those former drivers that does that, because we’ve experienced that.”
Lewis Hamilton was involved in a controversy regarding former Brazilian champion Nelson Piquet‘s comments. Nelson gave an interview last year after Hamilton-Verstappen 180 mph contact in Silverstone. Piquet blamed Lewis and used the n-word to refer to him while giving the interview in Portuguese. The video was finally out this year, resulting in a great deal of criticism from F1, Hamilton, and Mercedes. Nelson Piquet was banned from F1 circuits until he apologized to Lewis. This did not end here, as former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone also spoke ill of Hamilton while advocating for Piquet.
Lewis Hamilton was quick to respond to the unnecessary attack against him. The Briton said that someone who has not been relevant in the sport for decades had been saying negative things and trying to bring him down. He urged Formula 1 and the media not to provide such nonsensical people with platforms to spread out the negativity. Hence, Hamilton is hell-bent on not becoming the same kind of former drivers that he has hated all through his career.