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Lewis Hamilton Shares Vital Mental Health Advice for Overcoming Challenges

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has shared valuable advice for individuals struggling with their mental health, reflecting on some of the most difficult moments of his career. Despite achieving remarkable success in motorsport, Hamilton has experienced several heartbreaking setbacks, particularly in his early years and in recent title battles.

Hamilton has competed at the highest level of F1 for nearly two decades, and although he has cemented himself as one of the greatest drivers in history, his journey has not been without its struggles. Two of his most painful championship defeats came in 2007 and 2021—both of which were decided by the slimmest of margins, leaving Hamilton with significant disappointment.

Back in 2007, during his rookie season, Hamilton was on course to become the youngest-ever F1 champion. He arrived at the Chinese Grand Prix leading the title race, but a disastrous mistake in the pit lane saw him slide into the gravel and retire from the race. That error, combined with Kimi Räikkönen’s back-to-back victories, meant that Hamilton missed out on the title by just one point. The setback was crushing, and Hamilton later admitted that he struggled to process the loss, spending three days confined to his hotel room in deep disappointment.

A similar heartbreak occurred in 2021 when Hamilton battled Max Verstappen for the world championship in a season-long rivalry that came down to the final race in Abu Dhabi. With both drivers tied in the standings, Hamilton led the race in the closing laps, seemingly on his way to an eighth title. However, a controversial safety car period allowed Verstappen—on fresher tires—to overtake him on the final lap and secure the championship.

Reflecting on these tough moments, Hamilton recently opened up in an interview with W Magazine China, discussing how he dealt with adversity and sharing advice on maintaining mental well-being. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging and accepting emotions rather than suppressing them. According to Hamilton, recognizing feelings of disappointment or frustration is the first step in moving forward.

“You need to be open to accepting that it’s okay to feel the way you do,” Hamilton explained. “It’s natural. But what’s important is to remember that dwelling on the past won’t change anything. It’s done.”

Instead of fixating on setbacks, Hamilton encourages people to focus on improvement and personal growth. He highlighted the importance of taking steps to better prepare for future challenges, ensuring that one’s mindset remains positive and productive.

“You can always do more to prepare better, to improve yourself, and to positively influence the people around you,” he said. “There’s always room for growth. But the most crucial thing is to always believe in yourself.”

Hamilton concluded by acknowledging that the toughest days are when self-doubt and negative thoughts tend to creep in. However, he insists that pushing forward and fighting for one’s dreams is what ultimately leads to success.