Over his career spanning 17 years (and counting), Lewis Hamilton became the face of the sport. He’s become the driver of change in F1 and the motorsport industry. But carrying this weight on his shoulders—to ensure F1 becomes an inclusive and diverse sport—as well as the expectations of the millions of fans he’s garnered over the years isn’t easy. Having to be this person so many people look up to while also being there for himself is one of the toughest things Hamilton has had to face. But he’s handled everything like a professional, portraying himself as the picture of calm, while inside brewed a raging anxiousness.

At the heart of this anxiousness and need for perfection lies Hamilton’s father, Anthony. From giving him his first remote-controlled car to gifting him his first go-kart, Anthony fueled his son’s passion for F1. What started as a loving relationship was met with a fallout once Hamilton made it into F1. And well, Hamilton may have given a better picture as to why that happened.

Lewis Hamilton hasn’t been in the best place mentally

Until 2010, Anthony was Hamilton’s manager. But before the 2010 season started, Lewis decided to break that partnership with his dad. He said, “My dad and I haven’t had the easiest of relationships. In the search for success, we were so immersed in the drive to succeed that we lost sight of what was most important—our relationship.” Turns out, Hamilton’s father was pretty tough on him as a kid (maybe not as tough as Jos Verstappen, though). In a podcast with Jay Shetty nine months ago, Hamilton revealed, “My dad never let me cry as a kid. He said that’s a sign of weakness. ‘Don’t ever let me see you shed a tear.’”

“I remember just holding back through those difficult times as a kid, holding back most of that stuff, and in 2020, I hadn’t cried for 10 years maybe. There was a lot of bottled-up stuff that came up that I didn’t even know about suppressing pain or feeling,” he added. All those pent-up emotions are bound to pile up and not bode too well for Hamilton’s mental health. Unfortunately, that’s precisely the case.

In an interview at the Brazilian GP, the honourary Brazilian opened up about his mental health struggles. “You don’t see me on social media a huge amount because there are anxieties that I have. I’ve never spoken about it but I’ve had to do a lot of work in the back,” said Hamilton. That explains his sudden social media appearances followed by radio silence. “Whether it’s working through therapy, whether it’s finding different outlets, reading, or meditation. Trying to pull more tools to my arsenal so I can deal with the challenges that I’m facing.”

Read More: Lewis Hamilton Recalls Denying His Father Anthony’s Advise to Finalize the Decision That Made Him a 7X Champ

As much as Hamilton’s father has contributed to his anxiousness, he’s also the only person the seven-time champion has always worked to impress. Had it not been for his father, Hamilton may not be the driver we know him as today.

Anthony Hamilton has defined Lewis’ career

Every driver in F1 has a moment that assures them that they’ve finally made it. They’ve achieved what they set out to do. Anthony Hamilton’s tough love helped Lewis reach the pinnacle of motorsport, but it was only after his first win that he knew he’d done everything he felt he needed to. In one of the best rookie seasons F1 has ever witnessed, Hamilton took the motorsport world by storm in 2007. After winning his first race at the 2007 Canadian GP, Hamilton looked back on the podium celebrations.

“I remember standing on the podium, just happier than I’d ever been. And I remember looking down and seeing my dad smile and that was the day that I knew that we had made it,” Hamilton explained. He then said just how much getting his father’s appreciation meant to him. “I hadn’t had a lot of embraces from my dad. He was a very tough father, and he found it generally quite difficult to show affection. At the time probably, any vulnerability is weakness. Yeah, damn, I needed that hug from my dad so bad.”

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Lewis Hamilton got that overdue hug from his dad after the Canadian GP that year. But everything that built up to that moment, and the years in F1 that followed, have taken a toll on the seven-time champion. What are your thoughts on Hamilton opening up about his mental struggles?