Lewis Hamilton says his current Formula 1 championship fight is “empowering” during the push for change in society.
The six-time world champion is currently 30 points clear of Max Verstappen after the first five races, as he bids to match Michael Schumacher’s record of seven F1 titles in 2020.
If that wasn’t enough, it has coincided with Hamilton taking up the baton in using his platform to fight racism, resulting in F1’s #WeRaceAsOne initiative.
And that has put extra significance on this season, in the mind of the Mercedes driver.
“I think it’s the most important year of my life to date with everything that’s going on,” Hamilton said via Crash.net
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“It’s a different fight championship-wise to other years. They are always different but we had the years when we were fighting Ferraris and Red Bulls, but it’s slightly different up to this point.
“It’s a special year and I don’t take that lightly. People ask where we get our motivation from and I think there are so many things to take inspiration from and to inspire us.
“To fight for a championship in a time like this is exciting and empowering with the thought that there might be change to follow.”
Despite his positive intentions, Hamilton’s activism has made him more divisive than ever in the current political climate globally.
But as for his abilities as a racing driver, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc believes everyone should respect what he’s achieved.
“I think we cannot take anything away from Lewis, who I think is one of the greatest drivers in F1 history and he’s doing a great job,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“He is always very consistent, always 100%, mentally very strong. So there is nothing to say: Mercedes, he, the combination of the two elements makes it really difficult to compete with them right now.”
