Lewis Hamilton’s stance on distractions has spoken volumes about the F1 champion (Image: PA)
Lewis Hamilton admitted that he cut out all distractions from his life in order to achieve greatness in . The 40-year-old British has seven world championships under his belt and is set to be remembered as one of the greatest drivers ever to grace the track. He also boasts the most wins and podium finishes in the sport’s history.
Yet, it was a pivotal decision ahead of the 2012 season to remove “distractions” that may have for his illustrious career. Reflecting on his change in approach back in 2011, Hamilton said: “Life is like a puzzle, you just have to get things in place. Formula One is a massively competitive sport where you have to have clear thoughts, to live and breathe Formula One. There is no room for anything else.
“So I plan to eliminate everything in my life – not my family or anything like that – but anything that can be a distraction. That will be a start, and the rest will be just doing what I’m doing.”
This mindset shift came after a less-than-stellar fifth-place finish in the 2011 F1 standings, where he amassed 227 points, reports That year saw ‘s Sebastian Vettel clinch the championship with 392 points, leaving Jenson Button trailing by 122 in second place.
Hamilton’s relentless pursuit of F1 supremacy has seen him make numerous sacrifices over the years. The Stevenage-born star has never tied the knot, and his eight-year romance with Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger – which ended in 2015 – has been his longest relationship to date.
With no children either, it seems Hamilton has been able to dedicate himself entirely to his remarkable career. Hamilton secured his first F1 title in 2008 with , but it wasn’t until 2014 that he claimed his second, following a shift in mindset.
Lewis Hamilton once dated Nicole Scherzinger (Image: Getty Images)
After moving to in 2013, he bagged six more titles between 2014 and 2020 – before being dethroned by , who has clinched the last four championships in a row. Last year saw Hamilton finish seventh in the drivers’ championship, trailing then team-mate , with a modest two victories and five podium finishes.
This was in stark contrast to Verstappen’s nine wins and 14 podiums. However, he is hopeful that joining forces with Charles Leclerc at will reignite his winning streak, with Hamilton’s attitude towards the sport remaining unchanged as he heads into Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
“I’m the first and only Black driver that’s ever been in this sport,” he said ahead of the new season. “I’m built different. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve had my own journey. You can’t compare me to another 40-year-old, past or present, Formula One driver in history. Because they are nothing like me. I’m hungry, driven, don’t have a wife and kids.
“I’m focused on one thing, and that’s winning. That’s my number one priority. “What I can tell you is, retirement is nowhere on my radar. I could be here until I’m 50, who knows.”
As he prepares to begin his season in Melbourne on Sunday, Hamilton is tied with Michael Schumacher for the most F1 titles, and an eighth championship could cement his status as the greatest driver in the sport’s history.
However, Hamilton will start the Australian Grand Prix in eighth after a tough first qualifiying experience with in Melbourne for the season opener. New team-mate Leclerc is just ahead in seventh, while ‘s is at the front of the grid.