Mercedes' NHS aid gives Lewis Hamilton more pride than championship successes

Mercedes

Mercedes' NHS aid gives Hamilton more pride than championship successes

Mercedes developed respiratory devices to help the NHS during the initial Covid-19 outbreak

Ewan Gale

Wednesday 30 December 2020 16:30

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Lewis Hamilton has revealed he took more pride from Mercedes' efforts to save lives and help the NHS at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic than from the team's record-breaking on-track success in 2020.

This year Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher's tally of seven world drivers' championships and Mercedes became the first manufacturer to secure seven consecutive constructors' titles.

Despite this unprecedented success, it is the team's work away from the track developing medical ventilators that gave Hamilton the most pride.

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“When I think about this year I naturally think of hard a year it has been for so many people," said Hamilton.

"So many lives lost, businesses shutting down, people struggling – I can’t even imagine how big and how deep it goes in terms of the bad impact it has had this year.

“I feel incredibly fortunate and grateful that we got to work, that there have been positives to take from the year and, yes, the racing season was consistent and strong and the records we broke, but I would say the thing I am most proud of is the team during the initial phase of the pandemic.

“They united and started helping the NHS in trying to save lives. For me, that is a huge accomplishment and a true showing of real caring people.”

Recognising Mercedes' continued successes, Hamilton praised the work ethic instilled in the team to continue to push the boundaries of performance and give him the chance to win championships.

“To make history with the team, it’s my eighth year with the team, the longest stint that I have had with a team and it’s just incredible," he added.

"It’s incredible that we have just gone leaps and bounds. We’ve continued to raise the bar and I’m just truly, truly grateful to everyone who puts so much work in to create an opportunity for me to go out and display my ability and play my role in helping them succeed.”