“Every Single Time I’m… ” – Lewis Hamilton Explains How Early Hardships With Father Anthony Influence Him in F1

Despite his humble beginnings, Lewis Hamilton has become the most prolific driver in the history of Formula One. He has achieved 98 wins and claimed 100 pole positions in his F1 career. The British driver is currently tied with Michael Schumacher for seven world championships.

The boy from Stevenage has made his way to the top of the sport with his raw talent and determination. His struggles in his young years have made him the toughest driver on the grid. Lewis and his father Anthony made their way into the pinnacle of motorsport with limited resources.

But now, the dynamics in F1 have changed. Most drivers now belong to a wealthy background; the sport, according to Hamilton himself, has become a billionaire boys’ club.

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There’s no way that we would make it now: Lewis Hamilton

As reported by The Guardian, the seven-time world champion believes that they is no way he would have made it Formula One now. The British driver also stated that his struggles growing up are the main reason behind his success in the sport.

“There’s no way that we would make it now if we started from where we started,” he said.

“I know how hard it was for my dad just to have fresh tires at the weekend.

“It’s impacted me heavily. I can’t just think, ‘I deserve to be here.’ I can’t squander this opportunity. I have to grab it with both hands and really dig deep every single time I’m in the car,” said Hamilton.

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Is F1 a billionaire boys’ club?

The recent introduction of drivers such as Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin has cemented the fact that F1 has become a billionaire boys’ club. There are more and more pay drivers entering the sport each season. Some of the pay drivers include Sergio Perez, Nikita Mazepin, Lance Stroll, etc.

Not just pay drivers, the F1 grid right now also consists of drivers with motorsport backgrounds. Drivers such as Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen, and Mick Schumacher all belong to families with racing backgrounds. The sport needs to become more accessible in the coming years to thrive in the future.

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Will F1 become more accessible? Comment below to let us know.