Hamilton admits he is not at his best level

In a season already off to a rocky start on the sporting front, Lewis Hamilton has been repeatedly criticized for his excesses both on the track and away from the cockpits, where his flashy entry into the “star system” has made many chuckle. The Briton confided to Press Association Sport about this aspect of his life and his relations with the celebrity world: « It’s always great to hang out with people like that. I feel exactly the same about them as I did before knowing them. I still have stars in my eyes, I am in awe. I still see them on television as before – but it’s strange to look at your phone and think: “I can call this guy ».

« People look at it from the outside and say: “I would give anything to be in their shoes.” That’s absolutely true, because I would give anything to be in my own shoes. How much money you have, that’s not what matters – you can’t have it all, and sometimes I miss certain moments from my past ».

A past on which he does not dwell, preferring to focus on the future and present: There will be other things in the future, but right now, there are more important things to do. Like reaching the peak of my career in F1, because I don’t feel like I’m at my maximum. I don’t think the performances are at their highest level, and that’s what I’m really trying to focus on.

Author of several mistakes this season, notably in Monaco where he sent Pastor Maldonado into the wall with a reckless overtake and also in Spa where he cut off Kamui Kobayashi too quickly, Hamilton shares his feelings: « You feel a lot of anger. I’m not angry at myself. I don’t think it’s something shameful to make mistakes. Sometimes, you’re in situations, and you don’t know how you got there, but they are what they are, and you have to face them. It’s embarrassing when you’re racing, and you know you could be leading; it’s painful for your family at home, for your guests, for your friends, so it probably has more impact within you ».

The question that many observers are asking today is whether the McLaren driver will withstand both the pressure inherent to his status and the one he imposes on himself by ostentatiously attending social events. James Allen, a journalist specializing in Formula 1, commented on this on his website: « Experienced drivers say it’s vital to recognize that you need a lot of energy when you’re a top-level F1 driver. You need to find the right balance between the various demands […] Someone from Red Bull recently told me that when Hamilton met Christian Horner in Montreal, the media coverage, attention, and buzz the team experienced were astounding—and this from a team accustomed to media hype. Hamilton attracts a lot of media ».

As a reminder, Lewis Hamilton is currently fifth in the world championship, with a 113-point deficit to Sebastian Vettel, equivalent to four wins and a third place.