“I Was Suppressing a Big Part of Myself”: Lewis Hamilton Reveals F1-Induced Trauma That Launched Him Into Self-Discovery

A driver might retire and leave F1, but one cannot get the need for racing out of a driver. It’s like oxygen for them. Being a Formula One driver isn’t easy; after all, there are only 20 in the whole world. And when they eventually become F1 drivers, it takes all their energy and time. And now, Lewis Hamilton has come out to reveal how the road to F1 induced trauma in him and launched him into self-discovery. 

Lewis Hamilton is arguably one of the greatest drivers Formula 1 has ever seen, having the most wins and championships in the sport, but he has also achieved equal success off-track in all the ventures that he’s stepped into. Be it his own food chain, Neat Burgers, his fashion ventures and collaborations, his venture into the music industry, or even his newly launched non-alcoholic tequila Almave, to everyone’s surprise, Lewis Hamilton didn’t always plan it this way.

In fact, while achieving his GQ global creativity award, Lewis Hamilton talked about how becoming a racing driver took most of his time, and there was none left for him. He said, “Since I was 8 years old, I was really forced to conform. There was no room for anything other than racing. My routine was rigid. It was wake up, train, school, train, and race. And there was no room for, or support for anything else, to explore any other interest, no matter how curious I was.”

Talking about how he discovered the creative side, Hamilton further added, “But looking back now, I realize that I was suppressing a big part of myself, a part of who I am. Once I got to Formula 1, and I started achieving the thing that I’d worked so hard to achieve, I knew something was missing, so I started to explore my creative side and I found things pulling me in like art, music, writing songs and designing clothes and now making films.”

It is still unbelievable how much Lewis Hamilton has achieved in such a short time. Especially now that we know his interest in these things was kindled only once he started achieving things in F1. 

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to collaborate on a music album

Lewis Hamilton was the only musician on the grid before Charles Leclerc ventured to find his musical side. And now that Hamilton has decided to make a move to Ferrari next year, both the musicians on the grid are driving in the red Scuderia. When Charles Leclerc was asked about the possibility of Hamilton and him collaborating, he suggested that he talk to Lewis about it. 

Charles Leclerc, talking about a potential collaboration with Lewis Hamilton, said, “If it’s what everybody wants to know, then I’m not sure, to be honest. I don’t know; I haven’t spoken about music too much with Lewis yet. We discussed it last year, and he was telling me that he loves music, and I don’t know. I’ll speak with him from next year onwards about a potential collaboration.”

Stay tuned for more Ferrari and Hamilton updates.