Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton has opened up about his mental health struggles as he revealed he has been battling depression since he was 13 and now wants to see a therapist. The 39-year-old said he experienced ‘some really difficult phases’ in his life and admitted he had ‘struggled’ with his mental health since he was a teenager, but had finally found solace on and off the racing track. His admissions come just after Hamilton ended an agonising 945-day winless streak after winning for a record ninth time at Silverstone when he came in pole position at the British Grand Prix in July. Hamilton’s victory marked his first since Saudi Arabia in December 2021, the race that preceded his agony in Abu Dhabi, where Max Verstappen denied him an eighth world crown in one of the most contentious races in the history of motorsport. As he claimed victory at the British Grand Prix, Hamilton was seen breaking down in tears as he reflected on a rollercoaster journey back to the winner’s circle. Those tears were perhaps as much about relief as they were of happiness, having felt for years the ‘pressure’, he admitted, of maintaining the top spot in the sport he loves. But in a candid interview with The Times, Hamilton said he had ‘no one to talk to’ about these issues as a youngster and was now thinking about seeking out a therapist. He said: ‘I spoke to one woman, years ago, but that wasn’t really helpful. I would like to find someone today.’ The sports champion added that he has at times struggled to ‘calm my mind’, but has found meditation, daily early morning runs, silent retreats and books about mental health helpful in clearing away any negative thoughts. He pinpoints some of his issues back to his childhood when he was bullied at school and faced racism as a child of mixed heritage. His father, Anthony, is of Grenadian descent, while his mother, Carmen, is a white woman from Birmingham. Thinking he was doing the right thing, Anthony advised the young Hamilton to keep silent and not fight back – but Hamilton instead ended up suppressing his emotions. He recalls ‘there was no escaping it’ and he found racist attitudes wherever he went, but his parents never ‘explained’ to him why. Hamilton said: ‘My dad was just, “Keep your head down, hold it in, don’t say anything, just beat them on the track, that’s all you can do.”‘ Anthony was a huge presence in Hamilton’s career, becoming his manager and looking after all elements of his stellar Formula One career, including looking after his finances. But in 2010, Hamilton came to the realisation that to plough forward he needed to strike out on his own to live his life and make his own mistakes – and sacked his father from the role. He recalls that moment as a ‘really tough process’, but one that was necessary. Hamilton said: ‘Obviously parents try to protect their kids, for ever I guess, and some don’t want to let go. My dad struggled with that.’ The pair are however as close as ever today. When Hamilton won at the British Grand Prix, it was Anthony his first embraced after stepping out of his Mercedes and wiped away his tears as he removed his helmet. He said afterwards: ‘I am still crying. There is no greater feeling than to finish at the front here. ‘It is so tough for everyone. But the important thing is how you continue to get up and dig deep even when you feel like you’re at the bottom of the barrel. ‘There have definitely been days since 2021 where I didn’t feel I was good enough or I would get back to where I am today but I have had great people around me and supporting me.’ Hamilton previously spoke out about his mental health issues in 2022, after finishing 10th at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. At the time, he said he was ‘struggling mentally and emotionally’ and it was a ‘constant effort to keep going’. The Formula One world champion made the admission via a post on his Instagram. ‘It has been such a tough year already with everything that is happening around us,’ said the 37-year-old. ‘Hard some days to stay positive. ‘I have struggled mentally and emotionally for a long time, to keep going is a constant effort but we have to keep fighting. We have so much to do and to achieve.’ He later added in a second post: ‘I am writing to tell you it is OK to to feel the way you do, just know that you are not alone and that we are going to get through this. ‘A friend reminded me today, you are so powerful and you can do anything you put your mind to. We can do anything we put our mind to. ‘Let’s remember to live in gratitude for another day to rise. Sending you love and light.
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