Lewis Hamilton is undoubtedly the most famous F1 driver in the world after the legendary Michael Schumacher. It is impossible that someone knows F1 but not Lewis Hamilton. The Briton is also one of the most successful drivers in the F1 with seven world championships.

But the Mercedes driver was not always such a strong figure. He used to be a shy kid who got bullied during his school days. Fortunately, his father Anthony Hamilton was there with the shy young Lewis. And it was Anthony who guided Lewis to become the world-famous F1 driver that he is now.

The first kart gave Lewis confidence

The 37-year-old recently shared his struggles from his childhood, like how the kart he got on his birthday changed his life. Hamilton is a millionaire now. But the Briton didn’t grow up with vast fortune; he wasn’t even able to buy a new kart as a kid. His father, Anthony, got him a used kart which he fixed with new parts. Hamilton shared that driving the kart gave him the confidence to face the world, and become the champion he is today.

The Silver Arrow driver expressed, “I had this strength that I didn’t even know that I had, and the growth that I would experience through these races of being able to put my elbows out, stand up, not be pushed over and bullied, was really empowering.”

Lewis Hamilton on his strong mental strength

F1 is undoubtedly a very competitive sport, which also makes it quite brutal for one’s mental strength. The sport can especially be daunting for drivers like Lewis Hamilton who have a rich career in the sport and also have all eyes on them during every race weekend. A small defeat or poor form can even take a huge toll on the person’s mental health, even if the driver is Hamilton. However, the Briton has never felt depressed or has sought help from a psychologist because of his incredible mental strength.

Hamilton shared that he exercises and even practices medication to improve his breathing, which helps control his emotions. More than medication and exercise, Hamilton shares that his father’s lessons are what’s behind his strong mentality. He shared how his father took him to learn to box for self-defense from bullies. But things didn’t turn out as expected as the young Hamilton took a hard beating in the boxing class and ran away. Then his father gave him the lesson of a lifetime.

ALSO READ: Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris Get on Hysterical F1 Helmet Tribute War

Hamilton shared, “I remember my dad kneeling down in front of me and saying, ‘You’re going to get back in there and give it everything you’ve got. You’ve got to face your fears headfirst.’ I went in, and I didn’t let this kid get a single punch in, and I overcame this fear. I use that same experience with all my racing.”

Can Hamilton win the Bahrain GP?

The Brackley base didn’t have the best pre-season testing in Barcelona and Bahrain. Mercedes even introduced their new controversial tiny sidepods, but it didn’t help much. Meanwhile, Austrian rivals Red Bull topped the timesheets on the final day of Bahrain testing after a minor sidepod upgrade. Even Ferrari was able to take the spotlight with their dominant performance in the pre-season tests.

After the poor pre-season testing, Lewis Hamilton revealed that his team isn’t ready to win the first race. It seems the Briton might stand correct, cause Hamilton again failed to get a top 3 finish in Bahrain free practice. Hamilton finished P7 and P9 in the FP1 and FP2, respectively.

WATCH THIS STORY: Mad Max: Verstappen’s Angriest Rants on Team Radio

However, fans should still look out for Lewis Hamilton in the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. It would be interesting to see if the Briton will end up on the podium just like last year.