IN CONVERSATION WITH…

…Lewis Hamilton as he reflects on winning his seventh world title

Lewis, a wonderful race today [in Turkey], a wonderful season in 2020. What would you like to say. How do you sum it all up?

My dad always used to tell me to do my talking on the track, so I don’t really have a huge amount to say. The performance hopefully shows what I’m capable of and what we could all do together. In the sense of young kids out there it’s important for them to see. I dreamt this when I was five years old, to be here in Formula 1 and it’s so important to hold onto your dreams, to dream big, for all of us, it doesn’t matter how old you are. It’s taken a long time to get here but I’m forever grateful to the guys that have helped me. My team, for believing in me, Ron [Dennis] for taking me on when I was a kid, Mercedes, who continued to support me all the way from 13 years old to today. Particularly to my family.

I hope they are feeling fulfilled. My parents sacrificed so much for me to be here and I never take that for granted. Hopefully we’ve earned the respect. There is more to do. This is a world championship and it’s the pinnacle of my life so far, but there is a much bigger win that we all need to work together towards and that’s pushing for equality and that’s pushing for equal opportunities for all these kids that are out there so we can create a better future.

You’ve made lots of powerful statements against racism this year but you becoming the most successful racing driver ever is possibly the most powerful of all. What does that mean to you – and what message to you think that sends out to the world?

It’s obviously no secret that I’ve really walked this sport alone: the only black person here, or the only person of colour here. When I was younger, I didn’t have anybody in the sport that looked like me and it was easy to think it’s not possible to get there, but hopefully this sends a message to the kids that are watching. Hopefully they can see it doesn’t matter where you come from.

Whatever your background, it’s so important to dream big. And if you are looking at places, industries, that you don’t see someone of the same background as you, or the same ethnicity as you, or with the same religion, create your own path. Because that’s what we did. Tough doesn’t even describe how hard it’s been. That’s the most important message for kids: to dream as big as possible and not give up.

In the UK there is a growing feeling that you should now be knighted for what you’re doing, both on and off the track. What would it mean to you to receive such an accolade – and could we see Lewis Hamilton racing in Formula 1 into his forties?

I don’t think I’ll be here in my forties, but I’m only 35. I feel young and fresh. Every year we talk about this and I naturally get the questions and I don’t really have anything different to say.

When I think about that honour, I think about people like my grandad who served in the war, I think about Captain Sir Tom Moore, who got knighted and waited a hundred years for that

“MY PARENTS SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR ME TO BE HERE AND I NEVER TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED”

incredible honour. The people that are running hospitals, the nurses and doctors who are saving lives during the hardest time ever. I think about those unsung heroes and I don’t look at myself as an unsung hero. I’ve not saved anybody. It is an incredible honour that a small group of people have had bestowed upon them. All I can say is that standing today, and hearing the national anthem I’m very, very proud. I am a very proud Brit. To be up there representing a nation. Having the flag over your head, over number one, that is such an incredible honour.

You’re the most successful driver in Formula 1 history but there are still a lot of critics out there who always say you’re just winning because you have the best car…

I think I deserve my respect. I think I have that with my peers. However, I couldn’t have done this without that amazing group of people behind me – but there is another great driver who is alongside me, who has the same car who obviously didn’t finish where I finished. I do notice that there are these interesting comments from past drivers, particularly. I really, really promise you, and hope that I stand by my word, when I stop in 10, 20 years from now and look back, I want to be embracing and encouraging the next youngsters that are here, whether it’s Lando [Norris], whether its George [Russell], whoever it may be, whether it’s Max [Verstappen]. I know how hard it is to do the job and I know how this world works. Of course you have to have a good team and of course you have to have a great car.

It goes back the same all the way down to karting. You’ve got to have the right equipment, and that’s something that will always be in this sport. But then it’s also what you do with it that really counts.