Lewis Hamilton opens up on the most traumatic period of his life before becoming world champion

Lewis Hamilton is one of the most successful drivers if not the best in Formula 1. After winning more than seven world championships and amassing more than hundred race wins in the pinnacle of motorsport, it is clear that he is statistically the best driver in the sport currently. While he has tasted success, on multiple occasions, the journey to this stage in his career was not easy at all.

Hamilton has dealt with a lot of tough situations in Formula 1. However, one of the most traumatic experiences of his life weren’t on the track. As a matter of fact, Lewis Hamilton had an incredibly tough childhood, having when one of the very few coloured people in his school. among the 1200 kids that were in his school, Lewis was among the six or seven coloured people who had taken admission in the school.

Lewis has faced racism all his life. However, it was very prominent during the early stages back in school. Lewis Hamilton used to get called to the headmaster frequently even when it wasn’t his fault. The Mercedes driver struggled a lot in school and also found out that he is dyslexic when he was 16 years old. “Teachers were telling me, ‘You’re never going to be nothing,’” he said.

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Lewis Hamilton faced blatant racism all throughout his childhood

In a podcast with Jay Shetty Lewis Hamilton, opens up about his experiences in the past. “I didn’t feel I could go home and talk to my parents. I didn’t want my dad to think I was not strong,” he said. “I was already being bullied at the age of six. I think at the time of that particular school, I was probably one of three kids of color, and just bigger and stronger bullying kids were throwing me around a lot of the time,” Hamilton continued.

“And then the constant jabs, things that are either thrown at you like bananas, or people that would use the n-word just so relaxed. People calling you half-caste and you know, just really not knowing where you fit in. That, for me, was difficult,” he continued.

That was a very tough period for the world champion. However, no matter what society had to say, Lewis Hamilton never back down and showed everyone what he is capable of. The Mercedes driver has gone on to become the most successful driver statistically to have completed in Formula 1. Being on par on championship trophies with Michael Schumacher. Lewis has been an inspiration to people all around the world.

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