Sir Lewis Hamilton has come a long way from the 22-year-old driver to someone who has been knighted for his achievements on the track. This transition feels like a quick one. However, it is important to remember that the first time the Mercedes driver graced fans with his presence was back in 2007. Most of his personality remains the same, along with the love for F1, but he had a completely different mindset back in the day.

The first time Lewis Hamilton hit the tracks, he was just 22 years old and at that age, he had different priorities in life. Today the 39-year-old racer is tied for the record for being the driver with the most World Championships, and while the achievements over the years made the Brit a happier person, he finally let the world what changed over the years.

Lewis Hamilton speaks about his evolution as a person

Lewis Hamilton has the spotlight again as he was interviewed by Formule1.nl. In the interview published in the 02-24 issue of FORMULA 1 Magazine, Lewis answers many questions about his journey as an F1 driver. One of the questions that stood out was the interviewer asking him “What is the difference between the Lewis Hamilton of 2007 and the one of 2023?” To this, the Briton replied “In 2007 I was just 22 years old, I was still a child emotionally. I didn’t know much about the world yet, at most, I had traveled a little.”

While continuing his answer, he mentions how he was a fast driver, but as a person, he was less comfortable. He explains how at that age, one is discovering who they are and who they want to be. Hamilton concluded the answer by saying “I know what I want in life. Regardless, I am a much happier person than I was then.” It seems like being an F1 racer helped Lewis Hamilton understand his identity. His strengths and weaknesses all are clear to him along with the knowledge of what he wants in life.

Although Hamilton had once said that he would retire from F1 at the age of 40, he said “And that is still possible. I have no set plan for the future. I still feel fit and still enjoy what I do.”This highlights his dedication to the sport. It changed his perspective on reaching 40 years of age, ultimately influencing his decision to retire. The interview reveals Hamilton’s deep love for motorsports. Despite appearances of a love-hate relationship, he cherishes the sport dearly.

Lewis Hamilton’s plans for the future

The world awaits Hamilton’s 8th World Championship as he continues his legacy as the first and only Black F1 driver. Not only does he break the norms of F1 being a sport mainly for white audiences, but shows how he is one of the best racers to ever do it. The Brit believes there might be a point where one feels they’ve had enough. But despite ups and downs, the love for the sport remains with him.

Many fans expected Hamilton to set the goal of reaching 8 championship victories before retiring. However, the racer made it clear that he would retire when he felt done with the sport. Despite still having immense love for the sport, the 39-year-old has mentioned the idea of going on a sabbatical to see how life feels away from the track. After giving 16 years to the sport, we can expect to see Hamilton participate in the 2024 season.

That being said, do you think 2024 will be the year of Hamilton or will Max Verstappen take home the trophy yet again? Let us know in the comments below.