Hamilton admits winless streak turned into 'battle of the mind'
10/04/2024 05:52 AM
Lewis Hamilton has revealed that his 56-race victory drought between the Saudi Arabian GP in 2021 and last summer's British GP was more than a tough patch as it turned into a veritable "battle of the mind" for the seven-time World Champion.
After years of dominating the sport with Mercedes, Hamilton was forced to confront a new challenge as his team struggled under the sport's updated technical regulations, starting in 2022.
His triumphant return to the top step of the podium at Silverstone last July was a long-awaited moment, but it was also the culmination of a two-year journey marked by perseverance, self-reflection, and mental endurance.
In an interview with Esquire magazine, Hamilton opened up about the lessons he learned during this difficult period.
"It's been mostly a battle of the mind," the Mercedes driver admitted. "Keeping yourself sane, trying to pick up new tools.
"Ultimately, it always comes back to persistence and dedication. Hard work. It always does eventually pay off."
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Hamilton reflected on how the struggle to return to the top reshaped him, not just as a driver but as a person.
"I think I learned that life is really about how much pain you can experience and keep going, and how much you can suffer and keep moving forward, you know? And that's life, right?" he said.
"It's not how you fall, it's how you get up. It's how you continue to apply yourself every single day. It's how you connect with people that you work with."
©Mercedes
For Hamilton, the long-awaited win at Silverstone – in front of his home crowd – wasn't just another victory or win #104 for on the Briton's incredible track record. It was a deeply personal moment of redemption.
"Everyone was talking about it being this fairy tale. And it really, really was unexpected," explained the 39-year-old.
"Going into that weekend, I had no idea that that was going to be possible. And it had been such a long time.
"So many thoughts cross your mind. Some of them you start to potentially believe in, bit by bit. And finally, I had that day when I was able to excel, and we excelled as a team, and it just kind of shuts that all down. And it helps you rebuild again.
"So it was really great to be able to do it at home, in my home country, with my family around. The last race in Mercedes at Silverstone. It couldn't have been more magical."
As Hamilton prepares to leave Mercedes and embark on a new chapter with Ferrari in 2025, the "battle of the mind" he endured during his winless streak stands as a testament to his resilience.
His Silverstone victory was not just a win on the track, but a symbolic triumph over doubt and adversity, proving once again why he remains one of Formula 1's greatest champions.
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