WATCH: Lewis Hamilton admits he aspired to be like legends ‘Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela’

Lewis Hamilton is one of the most recognizable personalities across all sports.

WATCH: Lewis Hamilton admits he aspired to be like legends ‘Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela’

Muhammad Ali, Lewis Hamilton, and, Nelson Mandela (Via: Imago)

Lewis Hamilton, the former 7-time F1 world champion, has a huge fan following all over the world. While he has done immense work on and off track, he has recently admitted that he aspired to be like Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela.

During his prime years, Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) was a prolific boxer but gained tremendous applause worldwide for his work for humanitarian and social causes. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), on the other hand, came into the limelight for leading the resistance to South Africa’s policy of apartheid in the 20th century.

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Hamilton takes immense inspiration from what the two esteemed personalities did during their time. While talking with WSI Style Magazine (Instagram) about who has had a major influence on him, he said,

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My dad, Ayrton Senna, Muhammad Ali, and, Nelson Mandela. Those are the people on my walls, those are the people I aspired to be like.

Looking at the reaction of the Mercedes maestro, it is quite clear that he has tremendous respect for not only Ali and Mandela. But also for his father, Anthony Hamilton, and the former 3-time F1 world champion, Ayrton Senna.

Lewis Hamilton himself is also a huge voice in F1

While Lewis Hamilton has shed light on how global personalities like Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela, have influenced his life, he himself is also a big personality in F1. Whenever Hamilton comes across some kind of injustice taking place, he has always raised his voice.

Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton (via IMAGO)

Moreover, being the only black driver on the grid, he has been leading a fight to promote equality in the sport, in terms of giving equal chances to everyone. He is one of the few drivers in the modern era who is very active in social matters.

Hamilton, very recently, turned 39 years old and does not have several years left at the pinnacle of motor racing. However, even when he retires, he will always be seen raising his voice against injustices, because this is the kind of person he is.

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