Lewis Hamilton recounts the racist harassment he suffered

« School was definitely the most difficult and traumatic time of my life for me. » The seven-time world champion Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton spoke about his childhood in the podcast On Purpose, published this Monday.

He recounts the racist harassment he suffered from the age of six. “ Constant remarks, people throwing bananas at me, using the n-word without impunity…, describes the 38-year-old pilot. They call you half-breed, and don't understand the box to which you belong. In history class, I wondered where those who looked like me were in what they were teaching us. »

The one who grew up in Hertfordshire, a county in England located north of London, looks back on a school career strewn with pitfalls, between summons and learning difficulties: “ Out of 1200 kids, there were only six or seven black kids in my school, and three of us were called into the principal's office all the time. He had us in his sights, me in particular. »

And to continue: " I was always in the lowest level classes at school, traces the pilot, who only learned at the age of sixteen that he had dyslexia. But they never let me progress, no matter how hard I tried. I felt like the system was stacked against me, that I had to swim against the tide. »

Lewis Hamilton remembers keeping everything to himself, not wanting his father Anthony, to whom he is very close, to think that he “ wasn't strong enough " or " unable to defend himself ". An anger that he used on the track, making his debut in karting at the age of eight: “ When I started racing, I was able to put my emotions into the way I drive. »

Lewis Hamilton, 7 titles as revenge

His father told him to silence the comments of others by proving his worth once behind the wheel. Today, Hamilton is the driver with the most pole positions (103, the most victories (103), and co-holder of the record for Formula 1 world championship titles with Michael Schumacher (7). After a year 2021 struggling with Max Verstappen, the eighth branch of his crown escaped him in the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 2022 season ended without any racing success, a first in his career. The driver begins a sixteenth campaign in the premier category. Again at Mercedes, where he has held the seat since 2013.

Linked to the German team by a contract ending in December 2023, the Briton is still thirsty for a new title, which would definitively propel him to the roof of Formula 1. And the task seems more delicate than expected, Red Bull et Ferrari having taken over the star brand.

But one day Hamilton will have to hang up his gloves. It's going to be very, very hard to stop the race, he assumes. I've been doing this for 30 years. When I stop, what will replace that? Nothing is on the level of being on a circuit, being at the top of the sport, being first on the grid or crossing the grid and feeling what I feel in that moment. There will be a big void. So I try to focus on finding things that can replace that and bring me as much satisfaction. »

For several years, the Briton has put his notoriety at the service of causes close to his heart within the paddock, with diversity in motorsport as his main focus. With the Mission 44 foundation and the Ignite organization, Hamilton is committed to promoting young drivers from disadvantaged backgrounds, in partnership with Mercedes. A project that he considers a source of great pride, and which is intended to last beyond the career of the world champion.

For now, the No. 44 remains on the grid, in search of one last consecration. His future car and that of his teammate George Russell for the 2023 season will be revealed on February 15.

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