Lewis Hamilton: opinion world champion of the premier class

After the coronavirus chaos in Melbourne, Lewis Hamilton enjoyed the mountain air. After the fuss over the cancellation of the season opener in Australia, the six-time Formula 1 world champion unwinded in a climbing hall before plunging into the waves in a surf park. Before the decision to cancel the Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver had taken a clearer stance against the event than any other driver. The 35-year-old gets involved – and no longer backs down from any topic.

Hamilton has worked hard to earn the status of opinion leader. He uses social networks to showcase himself and his view of the world. Before his arrival in Melbourne last week, the Englishman quickly visited areas in the state of New South Wales that had been devastated by months of bushfires. “When you read about it and watch it on TV, it looks horrific. But when you look at the true destruction up close and see how huge the country is, it just breaks your heart even more,” emphasized Hamilton, who had previously announced donations of several hundred thousand dollars. He also fed a baby kangaroo to media attention. Live vegan and climate neutral Climate and natural disasters concern Hamilton, as do the topics of animal husbandry, meatless diets and sustainable food cultivation. He has been living vegan for three years now. As a top athlete, he feels fitter as a result. “The gut is your second brain,” he once said about the influence of nutrition.

Hamilton wants to live a climate-neutral life - he has to accept the apparent contradiction to his existence as a jet-setter in a hybrid series. “I do not allow anyone to buy any plastic in my office or household. I want everything to be recyclable, right down to the toothbrush,” he explained last fall. “I try to change as much as possible in my private life. I also sold my plane a year ago and try to fly even less during the year.”

Lewis Hamilton is the Formula 1 driver with the strongest charisma. He polarizes like no other. © APA/afp / WILLIAM WEST

In Melbourne, a single driver put pressure on Formula 1 bosses - it was Hamilton. He found it “shocking” that the horsepower scene gathered at the Albert Park Circuit while alarm bells were ringing in other countries due to the coronavirus pandemic. “It seems like the rest of the world is reacting,” complained Hamilton. The blank space should be filled with the words: Formula 1 doesn't do it. Then she did, but only late. And only under pressure from their figurehead. “Hi, I’m Lewis Hamilton and I want to drive your car one day” Hamilton as a 10-year-old to Ron Dennis, his future team boss The courage to take a public stand has only developed for Lewis Hamilton over the years. But he actually always had courage. As a ten-year-old, he approached the then McLaren boss Ron Dennis and explained to him: "Hi, I'm Lewis Hamilton and I want to drive your car one day." Years later, Dennis actually brought him into the youth program, and Hamilton finally made his debut in the formula in 2007 1. Only with the escape from the “sole ruler” Dennis at McLaren, the separation from his father Anthony as manager and the move to Mercedes as Michael Schumacher's successor with the 2013 season was Hamilton able to develop into the person he sees himself as wants: free spirit and superstar.

“You have to accept that everyone works differently,” said his current team boss, 48-year-old Viennese Toto Wolff. “By giving him the freedom to pursue his interests, we can get more performance out of him on the track.” Mercedes gives him all the freedom Hamilton distracts himself with fashion, travel or music. However, he does not forget that as the first dark-skinned driver in Formula 1, he also has a social role that should not be underestimated. “I want to pave the way for drivers who have a similar background to me,” said the man from Stevenage, whose father could only finance his son’s expensive hobby by working several jobs at the same time. As a black boy among white children, Hamilton was also subjected to racist insults.

“We have to recognize that we are not particularly diverse in Formula 1,” admitted Wolff. “I learned from Lewis to accept that it is difficult to overcome discrimination from time to time.” It is one of the issues that concerns Hamilton. And he will continue to make his voice heard.

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Lewis Hamilton: opinion world champion of the premier class

Hardly any other world-class athlete gets as much attention as Lewis Hamilton. This is also because he doesn't avoid any topic, whether it's coronavirus, racism, climate, animal welfare or nutrition.

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