Lewis Hamilton said the limitations the pandemic has forced upon his lifestyle made him realise he needs to take things more slowly in future.
The six-times world champion’s hectic lifestyle once saw him making regular transatlantic trips for a variety of appointments between races. Although this changed after he sold his private jet, Hamilton continues to fill his calendar with high-profile appointments when his break from racing allowed it.But the need to avoid risk of exposure to Covid-19, and the consequences it might have on his health and very likely would have on his strong championship position, has forced Hamilton to adopt a much slower pace of life in 2020. He said the extra time spent at home and confined to his social bubble has given him an opportunity to reflect on his former lifestyle.
“I think this year has been a learning year with this pandemic,” said Hamilton. “I’ve definitely had a lot of time to myself, I’ve had a lot of time at home in my bubble.
“Which, on one side, has been not always the nicest. But then it gives you time to reflect and to really be present.”
He said that despite the disruption, he doesn’t want to return to living his life exactly as he did prior to 2020.
“I think in the past, life was just so fast. You’re bouncing from one race to the next, one event to the next. It was way too fast-paced a life. Even hopefully when this thing passes us, I don’t want to go back to how it was before.”
Hamilton said he wants to ensure his new priorities are reflected in his next contract with Mercedes, which he is in the process of negotiating with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
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“When I eventually get this contract in place, that will be a part of the discussion,” said Hamilton. “I think you’ve probably heard from Toto, he also realises during this time how time is something we can never get back and family is everything.”
Having equalled Michael Schumacher’s win record at the Eifel Grand Prix, Hamilton said that he would be taking time over the coming days to let the achievement sink in.
“I’m definitely going to take this next couple of days to try to really understand, just let it marinate. I think it’s very, very important because this moment will pass very quickly and we’ll be on to the next thing. And we know I’ve got a bad memory, so I’m going to try and somehow make it stick.”
However Hamilton said he will not relent in his pursuit of the 2020 championship, which he now leads by 69 points over team mate Valtteri Bottas.
“What I cannot do is drop the ball,” he said. “What I can not do is take my eye off the ball for for a second.
“Yes, I have a gap. Yes, we’ve got these great wins, but the championship is still to be won. The job is not done yet. So training will continue to be of importance. Diet will continue to be an important, getting the right sleep.”
He said that his work with FOM and the Hamilton Commission would also not be put on pause. “There’ll be a lot there’s still lots of conversations, the Zoom calls that I have with Formula 1 in terms of their plans. I’ve still got a lot of Commission calls that we continue to have every week. So I’ll be back in work mode.”
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2020 F1 season
- Pictures: Wrecked chassis from Grosjean’s Bahrain fireball crash to go on display
- Bottas vs Rosberg: Hamilton’s Mercedes team mates compared after 78 races each
- F1 revenues fell by $877 million in Covid-struck 2020 season
- Hamilton and Mercedes finally announce new deal for 2021 season
- F1 audience figures “strong” in 2020 despite dip in television viewers
Ajaya
15th October 2020, 7:31
((What I cannot do is drop the ball,” he said. “What I can not do is take my eye off the ball for for a second.))
Contrast this to how happy and satisfied bottas is with his performance(as I read before).. that right there is rhe reason LH is 6 WDC and counting…
Balue (@balue)
15th October 2020, 8:42
It took all of one post on a Hamilton article for other drivers to be bashed, but no surprises there..
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
15th October 2020, 9:26
Which ones?
ince
15th October 2020, 11:06
The Effie grand prix review
click https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VswUuHkqgKo
erikje
15th October 2020, 12:05
That is one of the problems with some Ham fans. They seem to think his status increases this way.
Pity.
ince
15th October 2020, 9:54
Here is a good reason why you should never ever discredit or diminish Hamilton”s success
click
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GBg8jxJlv4I
uyuj
15th October 2020, 16:42
Dogs?
Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
15th October 2020, 7:52
At last I have something in common with Lewis!
Zann (@zann)
15th October 2020, 7:52
Lewis has become so much more than a driver. It’s actually exciting thinking about what he’s going to do next, after he ‘retires’.
Thecollaroyboys (@thecollaroyboys)
15th October 2020, 10:35
He’s been creating brand LEWIS. After F1 he’ll be a new Beckham. Smart move.
erikje
15th October 2020, 12:06
He needs a spice girl for that.
None available I guess.
F1Soc
15th October 2020, 12:12
Needs his pussycat back….
Jack (@jackisthestig)
15th October 2020, 17:33
Paul O’Neil’s sister likes motorsport…
Zann (@zann)
15th October 2020, 12:15
The thing with Lewis is he’ll use his brand to achieve things @thecollaroyboys, much more than Becks. And yes he does understand modern brand I think, mixing with Toto and Lawrence and the F1 people and sponsors.
Rodber
15th October 2020, 10:58
Hope he doesn’t “retire” in Portugal….
ppzzus (@ppzzus)
15th October 2020, 7:56
Interesting, I think this is something a lot of people our age (millennials) are working through. When the quarantine hit I was mortified, unable to go to social gatherings affected me mentally more than I’d care to admit. After 9 months I’m starting to realize how flimsy those friendships were. Now I’m dreading the idea of going out and partying all weekend. Of course with hamilton it’s on a much grander scale.
Patrick (@paeschli)
15th October 2020, 8:51
It’s sad to read that people are happy they are having less contact with people. Never in human history has civilization been this individualistic.
SadF1fan
15th October 2020, 10:40
Is it sad? Ever since civilization has become more individualistic, there is less enslavement, less subjugation, less exploitation, and all in all the world has become a better place for the plebs.
erikje
15th October 2020, 12:07
Adam and eve rings a bell?
petebaldwin (@)
15th October 2020, 15:06
I think it’s great – I can’t see myself ever returning to going to the pub every Friday because “that’s what happens on a Friday.” Don’t get me wrong, I still want to meet up with friends etc but people have this weird assumption that unless they are out of the house doing something, they are wasting their lives. For the most part, I’ve absolutely loved having more time to myself where I can do what I want in my own time.
GtisBetter (@)
15th October 2020, 16:07
People are different. Some thrive and get energy from being around other people, while some thrive and get energy from being alone. It’s not sad to have a preference.
BradB (@bl0rq)
16th October 2020, 15:57
These people that say they are happy now are just sheep happy w/ the field they are in. They will get out to one party and get a head full of their favorite intoxicants and be right back to the old normal.
Slaven (@slavichou)
15th October 2020, 9:17
Same Lewis, same.
SadF1fan
15th October 2020, 9:25
Sounds like Lewis has been running away from himself for years..
Rodber
15th October 2020, 10:53
So, the Kardashians have dropped Lewis off their Christmas card list :) :)
Lums (@lums)
15th October 2020, 20:05
Dead jokes!
mrfill (@mrfill)
15th October 2020, 13:08
A decision which is so much easier to make with £150m in the bank.
He’s not getting any younger and has made his mark and his money so why not slow down (his life) a bit? Doesn’t have to give up racing, just ditch some of the photo opportunities and relax a bit. The fact that he can’t actually do as much now, owing to pandemic restrictions, has concentrated his mind a bit and as restrictions are likely to be around for quite a while yet, he has chosen wisely.
Trevor Ware-Lane
15th October 2020, 14:28
Lewis is only missing one thing in his life, and that is a good women.
Look around at the many others in F1 they are content because they have structure in thier lives.
Lewis is just escaping from reality, he is not the young man he once was, concentrate on his foundation and slow down on all the glam and glitzy stuff.
Thecollaroyboys (@thecollaroyboys)
16th October 2020, 4:28
… or a good man.
You never know. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Rhys Lloyd (@justrhysism)
17th October 2020, 8:22
Missing structure? Plenty easy enough to have structure without a partner.
Mr D Reynolds
15th October 2020, 14:51
Except Adam & eve are fictional characters.
David Bondo
15th October 2020, 16:07
He’s nearly 36. Hanging out in nightclubs with youngsters in their 20’s starts getting a bit weird I suppose.
A few years back the first person he congratulated after winning Monaco was Justin Bieber.
It’s like Schumacher winning Monaco in 90’s and the first he embraces is Macaulay Culkin.
George
15th October 2020, 21:42
Hes a fully paid up member of The Great Reset agenda behind this nonsense then!
ryanoceros666
16th October 2020, 21:39
Good for him!