Lewis Hamilton is a six-time F1 world champion and he is gunning for a 7th title. However, he insisted that his status as a ‘working-class champion’ is his proudest achievement.
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The British driver is the second-most decorated Formula 1 champion in history, just one behind Michael Schumacher. He often harks back to his humble beginnings in Stevenage as a way to keep himself grounded.
Lewis Hamilton: The road to the F1 championship
Hamilton’s journey to Formula One was so tough that his father Anthony had to work multiple jobs to fund his career. Speaking to Men’s Health magazine, Hamilton turned back the clock to his early racing career, all the way to Formula 1.
He said, “I was the first working-class F1 champion. I’m proud to have paved the way for others. One of my favourite phrases is: “You can’t be what you don’t see.”
“Anyone who sees me on the podium, even if it’s a child, can be inspired to follow their dreams. If that happens, I’ll have done my job well. Diversity is a problem that Formula 1 has to face up to. I want to do my part in helping the sport make progress, not only by inspiring others but also by collaborating to create more opportunities for people from different communities.”
Admittedly, even thought the Mercedes driver is close to match Michael Schumacher, he is not thinking about records. He confessed that it would merely act as a distraction. Hamilton insisted that even though he is the world champion, he always has to ‘start from scratch’ every year.
He concluded, “I just want to be at the top of my game in a physical sense, just as I want my car to be the best in terms of engineering. How can I make sure I’m ahead of everyone else? More consistent, meticulous and precise? How can I better understand the technology? That’s what I focus on.”
