F1 champion Lewis Hamilton issues statement on mental health struggles

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton issues statement on mental health struggles

Lewis Hamilton has admitted to feeling depressed as a child

By Sam Cook.

Friday 4 October 2024 16:00

Lewis Hamilton has issued an update for fans, following the admission that he suffered with mental health problems as a child and in the early stages of his career.

The seven-time world champion leads the way in Formula 1 in all-time race victories, pole positions and podiums, and is level with Michael Schumacher for the number of word championship titles.

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Hamilton will follow in Schumacher's footsteps next season, joining the team with whom Schumacher claimed five of his titles.

The Brit will hope to claim an unprecedented eighth championship at Ferrari, and has signed a contract that will see him race well into his forties.

Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion

Lewis Hamilton has struggled for form in 2024

Hamilton's depression struggles

Those two victories were Hamilton's 104th and 105th in the sport, extending his record as the F1's most decorated driver.

Now, Hamilton has opened up on struggles he faced during the early phase of his career. The Brit joined F1 in 2007 aged 22 having won the GP2 championship the season before.

"When I was in my twenties I had some really difficult phases," Hamilton revealed in an interview with The Times. "I mean, I’ve struggled with mental health through my life."

Asked to expand on that, the seven-time champion said: "Depression. From a very early age, when I was, like, 13. I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to.

"I spoke to one woman, years ago, but that wasn’t really helpful. I would like to find someone today.

"You’re learning about things that have been passed down to you from your parents, noticing those patterns, how you react to things, how you can change those. So what might have angered me in the past doesn’t anger me today. I am so much more refined."

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Formula 1 Daniel Ricciardo Michael Schumacher British Grand Prix