'It was mind-blowing' - Hamilton on meeting his personal hero
'It was mind-blowing' - Hamilton on meeting his personal hero
Lewis Hamilton has rubbed shoulders with some of the greatest and most respected people to walk this planet but the legendary F1 driver has revealed what it was like meeting one of his personal heroes.
The seven-time F1 champion has become an ardent campaigner in recent years, with diversity and racial equality foremost amongst the issues he has turned his attention to in order to raise awareness.
Arguably, no person in history has done more for that particular battle than the late Nelson Mandela, who spearheaded the overturning of apartheid and racial segregation in South Africa.
READ MORE: Hamilton opens up on retirement fears
Mandela went on to become the country's first black head of state before he died at the age of 95 in December 2013 following a prolonged respiratory infection.
Five years prior to his death, Hamilton was fortunate enough to be one of those invited to the great man's 90th birthday party, and a meeting with him still ranks as one of the 38-year-old Mercedes driver's most-treasured memories.
"Nelson Mandela was like, wow, he's one of my biggest, biggest inspirations," Hamilton told the 'On Purpose' podcast. "I was so fortunate to get to meet him when I was, like, 23 or something.
"It was mind-blowing. I mean, I got to Formula 1, and you have the success, all these things come, you've dreamed of being a racing driver, but you didn't dream of all the other things that come along, meeting other unbelievable people."
Hamilton star-struck
Hamilton has revealed he was almost overwhelmed by being in the company of an A-list cast.
He added: "I went to Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday in London and I was sat on his table in this huge room full of famous people.
"Bill Clinton was there, Denzel Washington was there, Oprah Winfrey sat right next to me, all these people that you would never ever in a million years dream of thinking you would ever get to meet.
"And then you discover they're also just human beings, with feelings and with emotions and with their own challenges.
"I walked into the room and met him and he sat in his chair and it was like walking into meet God, or like a king, in a silk shirt.
"His aura was something, you could see his aura, his smile. He was beaming. That was the most...probably the most impactful day for me."
Hamilton takes on Mandela's advice
Asked as to the best piece of advice he has been given, alongside father Anthony's mantra of "never give up", which has become ingrained in Hamilton's psyche, he again referenced Mandela and the words spoken to him.
"'You will always be learning' and that's what I learned from Nelson Mandela," recalled Hamilton.
"He was like, 'I'm 90, I'm still learning today and it's okay to be learning'. You're always going to be learning something new and growing yourself."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Vettel announces F1 return as FIA single Mercedes out for Miami checks - GPFans F1 Recap
- 2 hours ago
F1 team announce SHOCK signing weeks after rival departure
- 3 hours ago
Former team boss quizzed on role in Newey's Red Bull exit
- Yesterday 21:57
RB reveal STRIKING new livery ahead of Miami GP
- Yesterday 20:57
EXCLUSIVE: Insider claims F1 Academy and W Series couldn't co-exist
- Yesterday 19:57
Wolff delivers big verdict on Hamilton behaviour
- Yesterday 18:57
Related news
Hamilton salutes New York after making F1 HISTORY
Ecclestone ATTACKS Hamilton 'ego' after Ferrari move
Hamilton beats Verstappen and host of legends to key title
Former F1 chief suggests Ferrari making WRONG decision in Hamilton-Sainz switch
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860