Hamilton learned "winning isn't everything" in Abu Dhabi aftermath

Lewis Hamilton has learned that "winning is not everything" in the months after losing out on his eighth F1 world title to rival Max Verstappen.

Red Bull's Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the final lap of the 2021 season-finale in Abu Dhabi after a battle that raged for the entire campaign.

Hamilton was left "disillusioned" with the sport given the processes that took place during the controversial late safety car period that allowed the Dutchman to close in for the last lap shootout, with then-race director Michael Masi being repositioned as part of the remedies for the situation.

The Mercedes driver went silent over the winter but returned to the public eye in the build-up to the launch of the W13 in February, putting to rest concerns over whether he would return to the sport.

Asked on stage at the delayed 2020 Dubai Expo what he had learned about himself during the winter break, the seven-time champion explained: "I think for me, my whole life has been about winning.

"I have been racing for 29 years, so I think having that mentality of always knowing you can be better... but I think during this time, realising that winning is not everything.

"Sometimes, when you lose, you actually win and grow.

"My advice for people is: Don't be afraid of failure because you will always meet failure on the way to success.

"I will come back to fight for that eighth [world championship], that is what I do."

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