Lewis Hamilton brands his relationship with F1 a ‘love-hate story’

Lewis Hamilton's rebellious nature has sometimes got him in the opposite side of the F1 leadership over certain decisions.

Lewis Hamilton brands his relationship with F1 a ‘love-hate story’

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton (Via IMAGO)

Lewis Hamilton is in the midst of his tenth season with Mercedes and has just inked a contract extension that secures his presence in Formula One until 2025. Hamilton is one of the most renowned Formula 1 drivers in history, boasting 103 race wins, seven world titles, and arguably one other biggest fan base of all time. Despite all this, according to Hamilton, he has a “love-hate relationship” with the sport.  

The British driver has had an incredible racing career. He made his F! debut with McLaren in 2007 and clinched his first championship title by narrowly defeating Felipe Massa in 2008. Hamilton’s remarkable victories continued when he joined Mercedes, securing his second world title in 2014 and the rest from 2014 to 2020, except the 2016 season.

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Alongside Hamilton’s impressive performance on the track, he also had a challenging career, starting as the sole Black driver on the grid at the beginning. Acknowledging his career, Hamilton stated that he has a love-hate relationship with Formula One, and his competitive nature motivates him to strive in F1.

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“I have to admit that I underestimated my love for the sport. But it has become a love-hate story. There are days when I would prefer not to get into the cockpit,” said Lewis Hamilton in an interview with BLICK.

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Lewis Hamilton desires to showcase his helmets and cars in a museum

The seven-time world champion is known for his distinctive style in the paddock and as the most well-dressed driver of all. A significant fan attraction has consistently been his helmets and their symbolic significance. Where most drivers auction their helmets, Hamilton expressed his desire not to auction off them, as he aspires to showcase his journey in a museum.

Formel 1 GP Holland / Zandvoort. Freitag, 25.08.2023 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 Team; Formel 1 GP Holland / Za
Lewis Hamilton at Zandvoort (Via IMAGO)

Acknowledging his career, Hamilton stated that he takes immense pride in his helmets, considering them as significant as a sports jersey. He has also expressed his desire to collect and display all of his helmets alongside his cars in a museum to allow people to see the journey he has taken in his career from where he began.

“The only thing I refuse to sign would be a helmet. I take a lot of pride in my helmets – that’s my jersey. One day, I want to put them all in a museum with all my cars… so people can see the journey from where I started,” concluded Lewis Hamilton.

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