Lewis Hamilton has conceded he harboured occasional doubts that he would triumph again in Formula 1 prior to ending his 945-day drought at the British Grand Prix.
Hamilton capitalised on Mercedes’ renewed competitiveness and an enthralling mixed-conditions race to record his first win since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Briton overcame a spirited drive from McLaren’s Lando Norris and a late assault from Max Verstappen’s Red Bull to achieve a record ninth success at Silverstone.
Hamilton has expressed that the elongated wait to land his 104th win and his impending Mercedes exit were among the contributing factors to his post-race emotion.
Asked what made this achievement so emotional amid his tears throughout the cooldown lap, Hamilton replied: “I think ultimately because it’s been such a long time.
“It’s been 900 and someone just told me 946 days or something like that since the last win.
“And, you know, really challenging, you know, difficult time obviously 2021 and then coming back in with a car that we’ve not been able to fight with for the last couple of years.
“I think just it’s been incredibly mentally challenging. I think for everyone in the team.
“But I think just knowing how hard everyone’s continued to work, knowing how, you know, I’ve managed just to keep my head in it.
“And then with everything that’s happened this year as well, with actually so many emotions this year, obviously announcing that I’m leaving and at the same time starting with a car that we didn’t feel like we could win with to then finally be in a place where we win.
“And not only that, but at British Grand Prix in front of my home crowd, there is honestly, it’s the most incredible honour to be standing on the top of the podium and hearing the national anthem with the king’s name in it, for example, you know, it’s the first time I’ve had that. So yeah, and then also my family’s here.
The seven-time F1 champion has professed that there were moments throughout his barren spell when he contemplated whether he would prevail again in the sport.
Questioned on whether he started losing faith in certain stages during his drought that he would return to the top step, Hamilton answered: “Absolutely.
“I think, I mean it’s, the feeling is, it feels different to previous races and particularly races where you’re having race after race after race, or seasons where you’re having multiple wins.
“I think with the kind of the adversity I would say that we’ve gone through as a team and that I personally felt that I’ve experienced those challenges, the constant challenge like we all have to get up out of bed every day and give it our best shot, and you know, there’s so many times where you feel like your best shot is just not good enough, and the disappointment sometimes that you can feel, you know, and we live in a time where mental health is such a serious issue, and I’m not going to lie that I’ve not been, that I have experienced that.
“There’s definitely been moments where, you know, I thought that this was it, that was never going to happen again, so to have this feeling come across the line.
“I think honestly I’ve never cried coming from a win, it just came out of me, and it’s a really, really great feeling, I’m very, very grateful for it.”
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