What Lewis Hamilton has achieved in Formula 1 has undoubtedly provided him with a platform that has a global reach. And every once in a while, he does put that to use for the issues that are close to his heart. Back in 2o18, he took the opportunity to back another legend of the sporting world, and a very close friend to the 7x Champion.

Hamilton is someone who takes matters related to equality very seriously. Naturally, when it comes to his notice that the status quo in the society isn’t ideal with regard to this, he does tend to call it out. Back in 2018, when his close friend, Serena Williams was on the receiving end of this, he pulled no punches.

When asked about a list of the 100 highest-paid sportspeople, none of which were women, he said, “Serena is in the top three of the greatest athletes of all time above a lot of, if not all, the people on that list, so it is a big, big question why? It just shows you we are still in the stone age and that needs to change. Serena has already spoken of how difficult it is.”

“She has been up against Maria Sharapova and she had more results than Maria but Maria – and not just her but other, particularly white players she was playing against – were earning more money than her. Yet her results were higher.”

Read More: “I Have Been Non-stop…”: Lewis Hamilton’s Foolish and Irresponsible Antics Once Knocked Him Back by Almost $2 Million

Hamilton has been an outspoken ambassador for Williams on many occasions. But for Williams, probably the time he reached out to her after her 2018 loss to Naomi Osaka meant the most to her.

Lewis Hamilton once publicly defended Serena Williams after a public outburst

When you play any sport at the level of Hamilton and Williams, tempers usually do flare. For Williams, she lost her cool at the 2018 US Open, when she branded the umpire as a “liar” and a “theif” while she fought a battle she’d lose. But Hamilton quickly jumped to Williams’ defense on social media.

He posted, “Forever a champion. This day was sent for a reason, so that you could fulfil your purpose. What you stand for is far greater than any game won, you’re an inspiration for the world and I’m inspired by you. Congrats to Naomi Osaka, it’s so great to see the mix of cultures and to see people breaking down barriers.”

Watch This Story: Lewis Hamilton lashed out at F1 media over Snapchat antics

Lewis Hamilton is surely the right person to give strength to his friends in such a moment as he, too, knows a thing or two about losing the title at the very last moment. It happened to him in his debut season in 2007 and it again happened last year in December.