Lewis Hamilton: Abu Dhabi 2021 heartache taken 'long time to heal' says Mercedes driver after British GP win

Lewis Hamilton mentioned that it had been a lengthy process to recover from the controversial ending to the 2021 Formula 1 season. He opened up about the mental health obstacles he faced during the 30 months without a victory, leading up to his triumph at the British Grand Prix.

Hamilton had a very touching moment after winning the race at Silverstone, which he said was the most emotional win of his F1 career. He broke down in tears while driving back to the pit lane after clinching his ninth victory at the circuit, setting a new record.

The win broke a streak of 56 races without a victory for the 39-year-old driver. The longest he had gone without winning in Formula 1 before was 10 races. This victory came during the last stages of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia when Hamilton was locked in a tight battle for the championship with Max Verstappen.

During the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton was in the lead and was about to win his eighth world championship title. However, Verstappen managed to pass him on the last lap after a mistake with the Safety Car restart by race director Michael Masi. This controversial ending was later deemed a "human error" by the FIA.

After the race on Sunday, Hamilton told Sky Sports that he had been wondering since the end of 2021 if he still had the same passion for racing, especially with Mercedes not performing as well as they used to in Formula 1.

During the post-race press conference at Silverstone, Hamilton opened up about his feelings regarding Abu Dhabi 2021. He expressed that he initially believed he had moved on when he returned in 2022, but soon realized that he hadn't. It has been a lengthy process for him to come to terms with those emotions.

"That reaction is completely normal for someone who has been through that."

"I have been dedicated to improving myself and seeking inner harmony every day."

Tackle: Hamilton demonstrated his exceptional skills to the world.

Jenson Button, from Sky Sports F1, was Lewis Hamilton's partner at McLaren from 2010 to 2012.

I am thrilled that his parents were able to join in the celebration with him, as it is a special moment that will be remembered.

Despite having achieved victory in 104 races, this particular win holds a special significance as it comes towards the later stages of his career. He has once again demonstrated his exceptional talent to the world.

Hamilton Talks About Mental Health Struggles

After experiencing the disappointment of not becoming F1's only eight-time champion, Hamilton came back for the next season. He had spent the winter thinking about his future in the sport. Suddenly, he and Mercedes found themselves in the running for wins and more titles. This turnaround came after the team faced challenges at the start of the sport's new ground-effect regulation era.

The challenges for success were ongoing this season, but Mercedes finally made a breakthrough by discovering a key element in their car development, which Hamilton referred to as a "North Star." This led to them returning to the forefront of the competition. Hamilton's victory at Silverstone marked their second win in a row, following George Russell's triumph in Austria. This win came after Verstappen and Lando Norris had a late collision.

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Thinking back on the journey of two and a half years to get back to the number one spot, Hamilton revealed the difficult time he had experienced since Abu Dhabi. He explained why he was emotional and cried after his 104th victory.

"I believe that the tough situations we have faced as a team, and that I have personally experienced, have been difficult. It's like a continuous challenge that we all face to wake up every day and do our very best," he expressed.

You know, sometimes it feels like no matter how hard you try, your efforts just don't measure up. The feeling of frustration and letdown can be overwhelming, especially in a society where mental health is a major concern. I won't hide the fact that I have personally struggled with this.

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"There have been times when I thought I would never experience that feeling again. But when it finally happened, I couldn't help but shed tears of joy. It was an incredibly special moment and I am so grateful for it."

Wolff Helps Hamilton Lighten Load

The head of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, who has spoken about his own struggles with mental health, thinks that Hamilton's victory at 39 years old will be very encouraging.

"We have a long history together and we have faced challenges and difficulties at different times," Wolff commented. He has been by Hamilton's side since he joined Mercedes 11 years ago.

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"He has always supported me, and I've recently tried to reciprocate by helping him during moments of uncertainty."

It's such a great feeling to see him able to set aside all the negative feelings and deliver such a great performance.

I believe it has lifted a burden off his mind.

Hamilton's historic ninth victory at the British GP achieved many important milestones in terms of statistics. This race was also emotionally significant for both the driver and his team, as it marked Hamilton's last time racing at home for the Brackley-based team before he moves to Ferrari in the winter.

Hamilton has won eight out of nine races at his home Grand Prix while driving for Mercedes, after switching from McLaren in 2013.

"It has been a challenge in the past two years to find success and provide the drivers with a competitive car to compete for wins," Wolff expressed.

And to see him emerge victorious once more at the British Grand Prix in his final race for Mercedes is almost like a storybook ending.

We couldn't have planned it any better.

The next big event for Formula One is the Hungarian Grand Prix happening in Budapest from July 19-21. You can catch all the action live on Sky Sports F1. Don't miss out on any F1 race - stream them all and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No need for a contract, cancel whenever you want.