‘Drive To Survive’ And Formula One Star Lewis Hamilton Reveals Longterm Mental Health Struggle

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton, often featured in the Netflix hit Drive to Survive series, has opened up on his longterm battle with mental health. 

Hamilton told The Sunday Times newspaper that he had suffered with depression since he was 13 years old, something he puts down to the pressure of racing from a young age and struggling at school in his hometown of Stevenage north of London. 

Hamilton, now aged 39, said: 

“I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school — the bullying. I had no one to talk to. I’d struggle initially to calm my mind.”

The racing driver shared that, since 2020, he has been waking at 5am to meditate, as well as going on silent retreats and running 10km distances, saying: “It’s a great way of getting in touch with myself, my inner feelings — understanding what I want to do.”

Hamilton has been Formula One world champion seven times. He is currently in sixth position in the driver’s title standings.