Hamilton "prouder" of diversity fight than winning a seventh world title

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that winning a seventh Formula 1 world title this weekend is not as important as his off-track battle for equality and diversity.

Hamilton heads into Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix knowing that a victory will see him equal Michael Schumacher's esteemed F1 record regardless of where Mercedes team-mate and sole challenger Valtteri Bottas finishes at the Istanbul Park circuit.

Hamilton's life, however, has changed immeasurably this year given his prominence in support of the Black Lives Matter anti-racism campaign and his push for change in F1 due to its white, male-oriented dominance.

The 35-year-old, who recognises his achievements in F1 and those off-track cannot be compared, said: "Winning a world championship is very much a personal thing.

"Naturally, you are fighting with a group of people for a [constructors'] championship, but the drivers' one, it's one individual, and that doesn't necessarily impact people's lives.

"I think it's a much bigger issue, something I'm prouder of, doing the work outside, trying to improve conditions for people around the world. Everyone has the right to equality, education, human rights, so that's the most important thing for me."

Hamilton is far from belittling his on-track success, and what he could achieve this weekend.

With an 85-point lead over Bottas, it has become a case of when and not if he will win his seventh title, which is why he is free from pressure going into this weekend.

"I remember when I was fighting for my first world championship, the build-up to those races and the pressure that was there at the end, that was not needed," added Hamilton.

"If I knew then what I know now I would easily have won that championship at the end, but hindsight's always a great thing.

"Over the years I've learned not to add pressure that's unnecessary. We still have four races, so I have those to try and get those points. I don't put it all on one weekend, one day.

"To me, this is another race and I need to approach it exactly the same as I have in the past - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think that's why sometimes it's a shock.

"When I was in Mexico [in 2018 for his fifth title] all of a sudden it hits you because you've not thought about it so much, so it hits you and you don't know what to say or how to feel about it because you never really know if it's going to happen.

"The best thing is not to focus on the 'what if'. I'm focused on preparing myself, the same as I've done before, to try and deliver the way I have been doing all this season."

Before you go...

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