close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • IT
  • ES-MX
  • US
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US

Hamilton: I've had a target on my back since I was 10 years old

Photo: © LAT Images

Hamilton: I've had a target on my back since I was 10 years old

The world champion relishes the pressure of being No. 1

Lewis Hamilton says that the target on his back is nothing new, with the Mercedes driver heading into the 2020 season trying to equal Michael Schumacher's haul of seven world titles.

Hamilton is second in the all-time win statistics in Formula One, trailing Schumacher by seven, and the Mercedes driver is unphased by the pressure of matching up to the great German driver.

“I've had a target on my back since the day I won my first championship when I was 10 years old so it's nothing new to me,” Hamilton told Formula1.com.

“I've always been the only black driver there, I've always been generally at the front of the championships, so it's no different to any of the other 27 years of driving – so I'm quite comfortable in that space.”

Max Verstappen has publicly made clear his ambition to beat Hamilton, saying, "Maybe God is with him, but he is not God."

Hamilton says that he sees this kind of competition as a motivation to keep his standards high, adding, “It's also a positive when people are targeting you and looking to try and beat you because you want everyone to bring their ‘A-Game’.

"So if we do manage to pull it off and finish ahead, it feels even better.”

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 star crashes into rival, flipping his car out the race, but here is why he avoided FIA punishment

F1 star crashes into rival, flipping his car out the race, but here is why he avoided FIA punishment

  • 32 minutes ago
Is Lando Norris back with Magui Corceiro? Kelly Piquet dinner pictures tell all

Is Lando Norris back with Magui Corceiro? Kelly Piquet dinner pictures tell all

  • 1 hour ago
F1 boss admits failings over 'painful' 2026 car struggle

F1 boss admits failings over 'painful' 2026 car struggle

  • 2 hours ago
Honda reveal Aston Martin F1 revelations after Miami Grand Prix

Honda reveal Aston Martin F1 revelations after Miami Grand Prix

  • 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Max Verstappen hit by Miami penalty as Ferrari punished by FIA

F1 News Today: Max Verstappen hit by Miami penalty as Ferrari punished by FIA

  • 2 hours ago
F1 star Carlos Sainz addresses Williams future at Miami Grand Prix

F1 star Carlos Sainz addresses Williams future at Miami Grand Prix

  • 3 hours ago

Just in

18:28
F1 star crashes into rival, flipping his car out the race, but here is why he avoided FIA punishment
17:45
Is Lando Norris back with Magui Corceiro? Kelly Piquet dinner pictures tell all
16:56
F1 boss admits failings over 'painful' 2026 car struggle
16:15
Honda reveal Aston Martin F1 revelations after Miami Grand Prix
16:04
F1 News Today: Max Verstappen hit by Miami penalty as Ferrari punished by FIA
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

F1 Standings 2026: Lewis Hamilton under pressure as McLaren set sights on Ferrari pursuit Miami Grand Prix

F1 Standings 2026: Lewis Hamilton under pressure as McLaren set sights on Ferrari pursuit

Today 14:45
FIA slammed over 'pathetic' Max Verstappen penalty at Miami Grand Prix Miami Grand Prix

FIA slammed over 'pathetic' Max Verstappen penalty at Miami Grand Prix

Today 11:56
Adrian Newey’s ‘aggressive’ Aston Martin decision to blame for slow progress Aston Martin F1

Adrian Newey’s ‘aggressive’ Aston Martin decision to blame for slow progress

Today 09:43
Ferrari F1 star Charles Leclerc furious after Miami Grand Prix: 'Very poor decision' Miami Grand Prix

Ferrari F1 star Charles Leclerc furious after Miami Grand Prix: 'Very poor decision'

Today 08:58
Ontdek het op Google Play
x