The Mercedes driver recounted his difficulties as a child and the problems of last season, relaunching: “Never any driver like me”© Getty Images3 min● 23.01.2023 16:00TagsF1HAMILTON
ROME – Lewis Hamilton loses his hair but not his habit: the multiple F1 champion has certainly not lost his usual bravado after a complicated 2022. On the other hand, seven world titles cannot be diminished by a single bad year, record-breaking in a negative sense: never, in fact, had the native of Stevenage ended a season without even a victory or a pole position. What instead happened in 2022, due to the numerous problems of the W13, born from a completely wrong project by Mercedes . Now, after a season that ended in crescendo, 2023 presents itself as a great chance for redemption, with a record already in the sights for the Briton: Hamilton could in fact become the first driver to win after reaching 300 Grands Prix contested . A record that he is chasing together with Alonso, despite starting with a much better chance of success than the Asturian. Speaking of this prospect, Hamilton commented to Formula 1 Magazine : “There has never been a driver like me” . And, speaking of last season, the Briton added: “We wanted redemption after 2021, it was our goal. But at a certain point I thought ‘this car can’t fight for the title at all’. But since last season it has we emerged more resilient and determined . ”
Hamilton recounts his difficult childhood
On another occasion, in Jeff Shetty ‘s podcast , the Formula 1 champion spoke about very delicate topics, recounting his childhood amidst racism and bullying: “Already at the age of six I was a victim of bullying – he began – . At the time I believe that I was one of three black kids, and the older bullies kept tormenting me. And then other harsh blows, like throwing bananas or using the ‘n-word’ in an absolutely calm manner . ” And then, the lack of support from the teachers: “Even the teachers told me that I would never become anyone, and for a few moments I even believed it” . Violence to which he had never been able to react: “I never talked about it with my parents. I didn’t want my dad to think I wasn’t strong enough” , he concluded.