Hamilton reveals battles with 'mental issues' in F1 career

Lewis Hamilton has detailed the mental strain of competing in Formula 1, admitting to dealing with "mental issues" an "instabilities" while competing at the pinnacle for motorsport. Hamilton said the highs and lows of competing present many challenges, especially to a driver's mindset.

Hamilton has certainly enjoyed many highs in recent years, winning four of the last five drivers' championships, but his loss in that time period came after a fractious battle with former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

The reigning champion appeared on David Letterman's Netflix show 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction' and the American chat-show host put it to Hamilton that driving the fastest cars for a living could be nothing but fun…

"It's definitely not just nothing but fun," Hamilton said. "It's a hard, hard year mentally.

"You have these massive highs of these wins and success, then you have these massive come downs.

"Something I've never really spoken about, but you often do suffer from mental issues, instabilities.

"Keeping yourself together when you hit rock bottom, which you do as an athlete… if you're lucky you can find still strength at rock bottom.

"So it's about how you get up not how you fall."

Hamilton has over 20 million followers across social media and it was put to him how that could be a force for good – something the five-time world champion is well aware of.

"We all really do have a platform, doesn't matter if you've got five followers or millions, we all have a voice."

Related

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton drops Mercedes BOMBSHELL ahead of Las Vegas GP

• Yesterday 20:02

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Hamilton FRUSTRATION revealed as seven-time champion makes LAST RACE announcement

• Yesterday 15:33