‘I took things personally’: Lewis Hamilton admits he ‘struggled to accept defeat’ as a young driver before scaling the heights of Formula One
His incredible achievements speak for themselves, but Lewis Hamilton admits his winning mentality is the result of stinging self-criticism and a desire to prove himself to his peers.
The 35-year old is second only behind Michael Schumacher in the all-time list of Grand Prix victors after emphatically winning his sixth Formula One Championship in 2019 – Hamilton’s 84th win as a professional driver.
And he insists his burning desire to cross the finish line first goes back to his early days as an aspiring racer after entered the competitive world of Formula One in 2001, at the British Formula Renault Winter Series.
Opening up: His incredible achievements speak for themselves, but Lewis Hamilton admits his winning mentality is the result of stinging self-criticism and a burning desire to prove himself to his peers
He told Style: ‘When I was younger I struggled to face defeats, I took things personally and I had a tendency to punish myself. Now I know that every mistake is an opportunity to improve.’
Hamilton’s passion for racing began at Hertfordshire’s Rye House Kart Circuit in 1993, with his passion for karting leading to first place finishes in races and cadet class championships.
But the driver, whose parents divorced when he was two-years old, admits his introduction to the sport wasn’t easy.
Ambition: The driver insists his burning desire to cross the finish line first goes back to his early days as an aspiring racer after entered the competitive world of Formula One in 2001
He said: ‘Pulling back isn’t part of my character and that’s one of the reasons I’m still here today. But the difficult moments have been many.’
‘I remember when I came home from school and dad told me that we wouldn’t have enough money for karting that week. The other guys I met on the track didn’t have these worries.’
However the driver admits it was his father Anthony, with whom he lived from the age of 12, who encouraged him to pursue a Formula One career that initially seemed unattainable.
Looking back: ‘When I was younger I struggled to face defeats, I took things personally and I had a tendency to punish myself,’ he told Style Corriere della Sera
‘You always have to chase your dreams: even if they seem impossible,’ he said. ‘When I was a boy, the idea of becoming a Formula 1 driver was madness. I was very lucky because my father pushed me not to give up.’
While the past has defined Hamilton’s career, the driver – who also owns a pilots licence – is now looking to the future, and he’s keen to do his bit in an environmentally conscious world.
He said: ‘Climate change poses a serious threat: each of us must protect his future and that of the next generation.
Don’t stop reaching: ‘When I was a boy, the idea of becoming a Formula 1 driver was madness. I was very lucky because my father pushed me not to give up,’ he added
‘Being a pilot, these positions always bring me criticism … But you don’t have to be perfect to make your own contribution.
‘I feel the responsibility to make my voice heard in my sector and in all the activities that I carry out.’
Photos taken by Rankin Creative for Style Corriere della Sera.
The full interview is available in the latest issue of Style, out now.