Lewis Hamilton on his critics: ‘I’ve always welcomed the negativity’
BAHRAIN – As Lewis Hamilton embarks on his debut season with Ferrari, he says he’s still fueled by the criticism he’s received from “older white men” over his career.
Hamilton, 40, has joined Ferrari for his 19th season in Formula 1.
In an interview this week with Time Magazine, the seven-time world champion — the only Black driver in the history of the sport — dismissed criticism the move has generated from the likes of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.
“I’ve always welcomed the negativity,” Hamilton told Time. “I never, ever reply to any of the older, ultimately, white men who have commented on my career and what they think I should be doing. How you show up, how you present yourself, how you perform slowly dispels that.”
Hamilton faced the media on Friday during the lunch break of the final day of preseason testing for the new season.
In that session, he doubled down about his critics, saying the negative comments he’s received over his career have stayed with him as he embarks on a new chapter. “I haven’t had a second to read the story but I heard it has come out really well,” he said on Friday. “Naturally in our sport, criticism is something that everyone receives. I have probably received a lot more of it perhaps throughout my career but I just keep my head down, doing what I’m doing.
“I know that I’m growing each day, I’m bound to make mistakes I’m only human but one thing that I’m proud of is I have a drive, focus, I’m able to admit when I’m wrong and I know that tomorrow I will work to be better and it really doesn’t matter to me some of the comments that have come up over my career, not just these past 12 months. I use that as fuel.”
The Time Magazine interview featured a photoshoot with Hamilton posing with a black horse – a nod to Ferrari’s famous badge.
“I came up with the creative for that, that was my idea to do that shoot, something I’m really proud of,” he said. “First career directed photo shoot, so happy with how it came out.”
Hamilton’s Ferrari debut will be the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
Source: espn.com