Lewis Hamilton has flagged the rising prominence of social media as a major concern for the next crop of drivers trying to establish themselves in Formula 1.
The 2025 F1 grid has seen a large influx of drivers make their full-time debut in the sport, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Franco Colapinto all in their debut full seasons.
While the level of competition has remained as staunch as when Hamilton made his debut 18 years ago, the rise of social media has made adapting to life in F1 tough for the rookies as per the Briton.
“I mean, the times have changed,” Hamilton told media including Motorsport Week.
“I would say the racing space has probably got a lot busier with the fame of the sport, so it’s probably more intense.”
The 40-year-old highlighted how the online-age has led to these young drivers facing a lot more “abuse” than what his generation was used to when they started out in the paddock.
“Maybe the media is more reactive, maybe. You’ve got social media presence and online abuse that we didn’t have when I got to the sport.”
Hamilton applauds F1’s latest generation
Earlier this season, Alpine’s rookie, Jack Doohan was on the receiving end of some very harsh criticism from Colapinto’s fanbase who was being angled as a replacement for the Australian after a poor start to the season.
This hasn’t been the first time that drivers have had to sustain insults and jibes from fans following the sport on social media.
After coming together with his now former Alpine teammate, Pierre Gasly at the 2024 Monaco GP, Esteban Ocon had to come onto his socials to urge the fans to stop the tirade of ‘abuse’ thrown at him.
“We are not robots,” he had asserted.
“I have been deeply saddened by the amount of abuse and negativity that I have received online regarding my character, my driving, and my career.”
Hamilton commended the grit and maturity the younger generations of drivers have shown so far reflecting on his own rise in the sport.
“It’s been pretty amazing to see how mature the young drivers that have come in – young men that have come in – have adapted and how they’ve carried that weight, because it’s no easy situation to be thrown into,” he said.
“When I got there, it felt like being thrown into the deep end without having the skills to keep yourself afloat. But there wasn’t the online stuff that you could see, and that’s significant.
“There are probably even more demands on the drivers today, outside of the car, than ever before.”
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