Lewis Hamilton addresses his fans with emotional words

Seven-time world champion
“Continuing is a constant effort”: Lewis Hamilton addresses his fans with emotional words

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton opened up about emotional and mental issues he’s been struggling with “for a long time” in an emotional social media post. He wrote on Instagram that “some days it’s hard for him to stay positive”.

The Mercedes driver wanted to let his fans know that “it’s okay to feel the way you do, so you know you’re not alone and we’re going to get through this!”

The 37-year-old, who has won more races in motorsport’s premier class than any other driver, is now in his 16th Formula 1 season. But the permanent pressure to perform obviously eats away at the exceptional talent. “I’ve struggled mentally and emotionally for a long time. It’s a constant effort to keep going, but we have to keep fighting,” Hamilton continued.

But he didn’t want to give up the fight, Hamilton gave his fans hope: “We have to keep fighting, we have so much to do and to achieve […] A friend reminded me today that you are so strong and can achieve anything you set your mind to. Let’s remember to live in gratitude for one more day. Sending you love and light,” his post continued.

Unfortunate start to the season for Hamilton – 29 points behind the top of the table

Hamilton has fallen far short of expectations so far this season – as “Sky Sport News” writes, this is not least due to the uncompetitive Mercedes engine. At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last Sunday, the 37-year-old only finished tenth. Hamilton didn’t actually want to compete in Jeddah: “I just want to go home,” said Hamilton after a rocket hit near the track during training.

The distance from Mercedes to the top is huge for the time being: Hamilton and leader Charles Leclerc are now already 29 points apart. A bitter realization for the industry giant. Team boss Toto Wolff called the form at the beginning of the season “unacceptable”. “We still have a lot of work to do but we’re a great team,” said Hamilton. If the turnaround does not succeed quickly, the Silver Arrows will only have a supporting role in the World Cup race for the first time since 2013.

The third race of the season is scheduled for Sunday in Australia.

Pressure in top-class sport is not an isolated case

Lewis Hamilton is not the first top athlete to speak openly about the psychological pressure in top-class sport.

Last year, then-number two in the world women’s tennis rankings, Naomi Osaka, withdrew from the French Open after being fined $15,000 for skipping a press conference. She later said she had been suffering from depression for a “long time,” according to a Business Insider report. Tennis star Serena Williams has also been open about mental health issues, speaking about how talking to her loved ones “let me know my feelings are totally normal.”

Swimming legend Michael Phelps has also publicly addressed his mental health issues, drug abuse and depression. After the American was convicted of drunk driving in 2014, he even admitted to having had suicidal thoughts in a documentary by the US broadcaster HBO. Later, according to Business Insider, he went to a rehabilitation center for treatment.

swell: “Sport1”; “Sky Sport News”; “BBC”; “Business Insider”; dpa

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