“I Don’t Deserve It”: Nicolas Makes Damning Confession on Brother Lewis Hamilton’s Role in Racing Career

To be an aspiring racing driver and have Lewis Hamilton in your camp could be one of the best things that could be going for you. But to be an aspiring racing driver and to have Hamilton on your side could also be a bane if you think about it. Hamilton is a seven-time world champion. He’s statistically the greatest driver to have raced in Formula 1. His reputation precedes him. Considering how he fell in love with motorsport, climbed through the ranks in a White-dominated industry, reached the pinnacle, and excelled, he’s a role model for so many people. But most of all, for his brother, Nicolas Hamilton. 

The thing is, apart from being a huge support system and role model, Lewis’ reputation hasn’t always worked out well for his brother. Nicolas, 31, was born with cerebral palsy. It’s a disorder that affects his ability to move and maintain balance. Even so, he fought for the thing that gave him purpose—motorsport—and, like his brother, proved everyone wrong. But before proving everyone wrong, he went through a tough time.

Lewis Hamilton didn’t support Nicolas the way everyone thinks

Just like his brother, Nicolas fell in love with motorsport when he was quite young. Because of his cerebral palsy, though, he didn’t quite get the opportunities Lewis did. Until he was 16 or so, Nicolas was bound to a wheelchair. But he realized he needed to get out of it to achieve his dream. He started working on himself to get better and, against all odds, started walking and driving. From thinking he would never have the opportunity to race, he’s now a professional racer himself.

In 2015, he made his debut in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), the pinnacle of British motorsport. In April 2020, he made history! By finishing sixth in a race at Donnington Park, he became the first disabled driver to score a point in the series. He discussed his journey and Lewis’ contribution in an interview with The Independent.

He said, “Lewis has never put a penny into my motorsport. There are people who still don’t believe me when I say that, but that is literally the situation. I’ve had a lot of online trolling and bullying where everyone says I’m only in BTCC because of Lewis. A lot of the criticism is unjust—I don’t deserve it.”

“But to finally shut the critics up on April 23rd was the best thing I could ever wish for. It was a load of relief and a lot of weight off my shoulders. When you’re slogging at it for so long, you feel like it’s not going to come. Every time you do something negative, you feel like you’re proving people right. So it was a telling day.”

Read More: Nicolas Hamilton Drops 1-Word Message as Lewis Hamilton Exhibits Ultimate Sportsman Spirit with George Russell

Lewis Hamilton may not have invested money into Nicolas’ racing career, but he sure invested time, patience, and, most importantly, support. Yes, Nicolas has Lewis’ support throughout, but he made his own way in this highly competitive industry. The Hamilton brothers have made history in their respective series, but they’ve also made history together. 

Lewis and Nicolas joined forces to help Mercedes make F1 history

When Nicolas Hamilton made his racing debut, it was in a fully customized car suited to his abilities. He worked extensively with teams to make his cars as comfortable as possible. In December 2022, he and Lewis worked with Mercedes to do something similar. While Nicolas didn’t get to drive an F1 car, he became the first disabled driver to drive an F1 simulator. Lewis wrote about the experience, “Earlier this year, Nicolas and I asked my team if we could make this day happen, and here we are. Time in the sim is incredibly rare and not something that is accessible for someone like my brother. It took custom modifications to the seat, steering wheel, and pedals to make this possible.”

Nicolas gave his take on the experience, too. He shared a picture of him and Lewis as kids and one of them from the day he tested the simulator. He wrote, “I was ‘cross-eyed’ in the top image due to my difficult birth, not to mention my CP too, with Lewis starting out his motorsport journey. 26 years later, Lewis is 7 time F1 World Champion & I am a history maker in the British Touring Car Championship, being the first disabled athlete in the series, having overcome my condition & proven everyone wrong, with Lewis kitting me in his @mercedesamgf1 race suit, as I become the first disabled driver in the Mercedes F1 Simulator. It is incredible what is actually behind 2 images. 🙏🏾”

Nicolas and Lewis Hamilton are role models for every driver trying to make their name in the motorsport industry. Did you find Nicolas’ story just as inspirational as we did?

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