Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says he regularly faced racist abuse while at school, revealing it was the most difficult and traumatic time of his life older brother.
Talk to On podcast purposesThe 38-year-old said he was hit with bananas and called racist terms while growing up in Stevenage in the UK.
“I think for me, school was probably the most traumatic and hardest part of my life,” he said.
“I’ve been bullied since I was 6 years old. I think at the time at that particular school, I was probably one of three kids of color, and only the older, stronger, bully kids. stoned me many times.
“I’m always the last to be picked, you know, when you’re standing at the playing field and you’re queuing up as they pick the football team, I’m always the last to be picked, or not even selected, even when I’m better than others.
“And then there’s the constant jabs and stuff thrown at you, bananas…or people who will use the N-word very comfortably. And people call me half-class and really don’t know you’re the right fit. With any position, it’s difficult for me.”
Hamilton, who started racing go-karts at the age of 8, said he didn’t feel he could report racism to his parents.
“I really feel the system is working against me and I’m swimming against the current, but I’m grateful that it’s made me the person I am today. There’s a lot of things I’ve been holding back.
“I don’t feel like I can go home and tell my parents that these kids keep calling me N-word today, or that I was bullied or beaten up at school today. I don’t want my dad to think I’m not strong..
“If I have tears, I hold them back. If I have emotions, they’ll be in a quiet place. It wasn’t really until I started racing that I wasn’t able to channel this emotion into driving. .”
In 2021 Hamilton Launch of Mission 44, a fund supporting disadvantaged young people in the UK. Mission 44 also works in conjunction with Ignite, a project founded by Hamilton and the Mercedes F1 team to increase diversity in motorsport.
Hamilton is entering the final year of his current contract with Mercedes this year but has already talked about wanting to continue racing beyond 2023. On the podcast, he said he’s still not sure how he’ll fill the void left in his life with motorsport when he retires.
Hamilton added: “It will be really difficult when I stop racing. I did that for 30 years. “When you stop, what would match that?
“There’s nothing like being in the stadium, going in a race, at the top of the sport and standing in front of the net or going through the net and the emotion I get with that.
“When I stop, there’s going to be a big hole, so I’m trying to focus and find things that can replace that and be just as rewarding.”
