“He faced alone a system that wasn’t always kind to him” – Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed his inspiration to get into Formula 1 and achieve unprecedented greatness.
Lewis Hamilton has done it all, almost, as he chases a record 8th world title this season. The inspiration behind him getting to the sport was Aryton Senna. Speaking to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, the Brit spoke about how the legendary Brazilian inspired him to eventual greatness.
“The way he drove, the colors of his helmet, the passion with which he spoke, and his victories. He faced alone a system that wasn’t always kind to him, something I experienced too in my career, albeit for different reasons.”
“I said to myself: ‘I want to become a driver like him and get to F1’. I liked cars and I considered it the most beautiful job in the world.”
Lewis Hamilton and #BlackLivesMatter
Lewis Hamilton also spoke about what inspired him to become a patron of the #BlackLivesMatter issue. He led the battle from the front, fighting for diversity in motorsports and in society at large. This led to Mercedes changing their traditional silver livery to black, which yielded them their 7th consecutive title.
“The emotions that surfaced when I saw George Floyd being killed in the US reminded me that I too have experienced a small part of that violence in the past, though in a different way. And it was the fuel to drive again, it put a rocket in my performance.”
“I gave my all to win it and I am working hard to get justice against social discrimination. Focusing on these issues, in an attempt to make them stand out in the public eye, gave me more strength, an extra boost when I was racing on the track. It wasn’t just about winning to get yet another triumph, but to do it for a greater purpose.”
Also read: “I’ll consider quitting”- Lewis Hamilton reveals what can force him to retire
