© Sebastian Kawka for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix ltd.
Lewis Hamilton admits “there’s definitely been moments where I thought that this was it, that [it] was never going to happen again”.
After winning the British Grand Prix, his first race win since 2021, Lewis Hamilton could be heard crying while talking to the team over the radio.
Afterwards he explained what caused such s sudden surge of emotions.
“I think ultimately because it’s been such a long time,” the Briton said.
“It’s been 900 and – someone just told me – 946 days or something like that since the last win.
“And, you know, really challenging, you know, difficult time obviously 2021 and then coming back in with a car that we’ve not been able to fight with for the last couple of years.
“I think just it’s been incredibly mentally challenging. I think for everyone in the team.
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“But I think just knowing how hard everyone’s continued to work, knowing how, you know, I’ve managed just to keep my head in it.
“And then with everything that’s happened this year as well, with actually so many emotions this year, obviously announcing that I’m leaving and at the same time starting with a car that we didn’t feel like we could win with to then finally be in a place where we win.
“And not only that, but at British Grand Prix in front of my home crowd, there is honestly, it’s the most incredible honour to be standing on the top of the podium and hearing the national anthem with the king’s name in it, for example, you know, it’s the first time I’ve had that.
“So yeah, and then also my family’s here.”
He also admitted there were times in the past when he thought he will never win again.
“Absolutely. I think, I mean it’s, the feeling is, it feels different to previous races and particularly races where you’re having race after race after race, or seasons where you’re having multiple wins.
“I think with the kind of the adversity I would say that we’ve gone through as a team and that I personally felt that I’ve experienced those challenges, the constant challenge like we all have to get up out of bed every day and give it our best shot, and you know, there’s so many times where you feel like your best shot is just not good enough…
“And the disappointment sometimes that you can feel, you know, and we live in a time where mental health is such a serious issue, and I’m not going to lie that I’ve not been, that I have experienced that.
“There’s definitely been moments where I thought that this was it, that [it] was never going to happen again, so to have this feeling come across the line…
“I think honestly I’ve never cried coming from a win, it just came out of me, and it’s a really, really great feeling.
“I’m very, very grateful for it,” Hamilton concluded.
