Hamilton's journey in racing began at the age of six when his father, Anthony, first lent him a go-kart. After gaining enough experience, the British driver moved from go-karts to Formula 1 cars and has since secured seven world titles in the sport.
Lewis Hamilton on Depression
However, Lewis Hamilton’s childhood was far from easy, and he endured various emotional wounds during that time. His parents divorced when he was two years old, and after their separation, Hamilton alternated between living with his mother and his father. Additionally, during his school years, he was regularly bullied due to his race. Now, he has opened up to "The Times" about his ongoing battle with depression.
I have been suffering since my school days, from the age of 13. The pressure in racing and the bullying at school - all of it turned into depression. Back then, I had no one to talk to about it
- the British driver shared.
Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut in 2007. In his second season with McLaren, he won his first World Championship title, and in subsequent campaigns, he achieved further success, gaining worldwide fame. However, his struggle with depression didn’t vanish, even after seeing a therapist. "I once talked to a woman, but it wasn’t very helpful. I wish I could find someone today" - he admitted.
The British driver also revealed that he has started paying more attention to his mental health recently. "I wake up around 5 a.m., start my day with meditation, and then go for a run. What might have angered me in the past no longer bothers me today" - he said.
Lewis Hamilton is currently in sixth place in the driver's standings, trailing Carlos Sainz by 16 points, whom he will replace in the Ferrari cockpit next season.
It’s been a few crazy days filled with a range of emotions. I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things at Mercedes that I could only dream of as a child, that now I have the chance to fulfill another childhood dream - driving in the red colors of Ferrari
- Hamilton said in a statement.
