Lewis Hamilton has spoken out about his efforts to go 'carbon neutral' as he pushes his message to protect the environment.

The five-time Formula 1 champion made headlines after the Japanese Grand Prix with two Instagram stories, first suggesting he was "giving up" but later vowed to keep fighting to increase awareness.

Though some have called Hamilton out for on the one hand promoting an eco-friendly agenda but on the other not carrying it out with his own lifestyle, he responded that criticism in Mexico.

“I’m trying to make sure that by the end of the year I’m carbon neutral," he revealed via RaceFans.

"I don’t allow anyone in my office but also within my household to buy any plastics. I want everything recyclable down to deodorant, down to toothbrush, all these kind of things. So I’m trying to make as much change as I can in my personal space.

“I sold my plane over a year ago. I fly a lot less now, I try to fly less through the year and mostly fly commercial so that’s been a big change in my habits.

"I’ve avoided trips as well if I don’t need to do it, been in the UK for example with family and gone up to Bedfordshire and stayed with the family instead of going on holiday.

“Obviously I’ve changed my diet which is quite a drastic difference,” he added, having switched to a plant-based diet in 2017.

However, perhaps the biggest hypocrisy some see is the fact Hamilton is an F1 racing driver with multiple supercars in his garage back home.

“I have my new Smart electric [car] at home and I’ve sold several of my cars," he said.

“Some of them I don’t really want to sell because I still love them and I’ve worked hard for them but I don’t drive them a lot if I’m really honest.

Also, all the cars that I have, Mercedes, I’m very fortunate to get quite a few cars around the world, I have three Mercedes in the States, for example, but I sent them back and I got [all-electric] EQCs.

"I think they’re bringing a hybrid out at the end of the year for the Maybach, I love the Maybach, however, right now that doesn’t really suit what I’m fighting for so I need to change that also for an EQC or one of the hybrids they have. So I’m constantly making changes.

“But it’s not a quick fix, it’s not something you do over a short period of time. But I feel positive that I’m making those changes and I’m encouraging people around me, my friends are seeing me doing those and also be more conscious and looking to do those kind of things.”

Hamilton is also working with his Mercedes, Tommy Hilfiger and F1 to help reduce their carbon footprint and on the latter, he feels there is plenty of room for change.

“If you look at our sport it’s shifted, we are using a third less fuel now," he claimed.

“There’s more I think that Formula 1 can do. They are putting plans together but I think we have to push all the industries, we have to push Formula 1 to do more and I think they’re giving us a proposal later on today for the plans they have in place and we’ll do whatever we can to support that.”

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Earlier this week Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne explained how his association with the series had also opened his eyes to the challenge facing the climate and suggested if Hamilton was truly serious, he should make the move to the all-electric category in the future.

Despite having previously praised the effort of Formula E though, Lewis admits he doesn't envisage that change happening.

“I still love racing and I want to continue with that, but I have no interest whatsoever to do Formula E,” he said. “That’s not something I plan, currently, to do.”