Lewis Hamilton has opened up about his long battle with depression, revealing how the pressures of racing and childhood bullying took a toll on his mental health from a young age.
In a candid interview with The Times, the seven-time Formula One world champion spoke about the struggles he has faced throughout his life, including his difficulty opening up about his mental health journey.
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Hamilton, 39, has been racing since he was just six years old, and said the intense pressure of the sport, combined with being bullied at school, left him feeling isolated. “I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to,” he shared. “I’ve struggled with mental health through my life, depression from a very early age when I was, like, 13.”
Hamilton admits he continued to battle depression as an adult, particularly during his twenties. Despite his success on the track—becoming the first Black driver in Formula One and winning his first championship at just 23—Hamilton said there were “really difficult phases” where he felt lost.
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“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,” he said. “So what might have angered me in the past doesn’t anger me today. I am so much more refined.”
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In recent years, Hamilton has tried different methods to improve his mental health, including silent retreats, although therapy hasn’t always worked for him. He mentioned that while his previous experience with a therapist wasn’t helpful, he is open to finding one in the future. Currently driving for Mercedes, Hamilton sits sixth in the championship and is set to race next in Austin, Texas, before a highly anticipated move to Ferrari next season.
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