Hamilton’s memory of the vulnerability of athletes has lessons to be learned

A series of powerful messages as the most open and outspoken driver in F1 has acted as a catalyst for change within the sport in its pursuit of equality in the ongoing battle against racism and injustice.

But Hamilton’s influence also extends beyond the cosmos of Formula 1, as he has used his platform as a top athlete and celebrity figure for the good by pedaling on important issues such as environmental concerns and animal welfare.

More recently, Hamilton has been promoting mental health awareness through his support for Naomi Osaka.

The four-time Grand Slam singles tennis champion made a statement ahead of the French Open saying she would not attend media duties and citing the impact of press conferences on the mental health of athletes.

Osaka won their first-round draw but was fined $ 15,000 for refusing to attend the post-game press conference. She has been warned by Grand Slam organizers that she could face tougher sanctions, including being banned from future events, if she continued her media boycott.

The 23-year-old responded by announcing that she is retiring from the tournament after revealing that she was struggling with anxiety and depression.

On the subject of matching items

Mental health is not a joke, this is real and serious. This takes a lot of courage. Let’s all make sure Naomi knows she is not alone. Today is a good day to check out and ask your friends and loved ones how they are and let them know that they are not alone. https://t.co/2ytC6k1hHd

– Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) June 1, 2021

Hamilton jumped to Osaka’s defense on social media earlier this week and criticized the French Open organizers for their stance during the FIA ​​press conference on Thursday ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku this weekend.

“I think she’s incredibly brave and I applaud her for her bravery because she’s now asking those in power … questioning them and making them think about how they’re going to react,” said the seven-time world champion.

On the subject of matching items

“I think the way they reacted wasn’t good with the fine. Someone talked about their personal mental health and was punished for it … that wasn’t cool. You definitely could have handled it better. Hope you dive in deep and find a better way to navigate in the future.

“As athletes we go to the limit, we are on the edge. And we are only human. ”

While Hamilton felt unable to offer advice to Osaka, the matter highlighted how stressful it can be for young athletes to cope with the pressures of modern day media.

“There is so much weight on their shoulders at such a young age,” he added. “The fact is, when you’re young, you get thrown into the limelight and the limelight and it’s a heavy burden.

“The thing is, most of us are not prepared. I remember when I came to Formula 1 and the team [McLaren] had PR. I was never prepared to be thrown in front of a camera, I was never guided on what to look for and helped me find my way around.

“You learn from mistakes. It’s incredibly nerve-wracking, especially when you have good intentions but people take advantage of it.”

Hamilton draws on his own experience of not being ready to be “thrown into the pit,” as he puts it, and admitted that he made many mistakes along the way.

Because Hamilton is such a high profile figure, almost everything he says and does leads to scrutiny and questioning. At times in the 14 years since he entered the F1 scene when he was just 22, he’s struggled with the tough spotlight.

In Monaco in 2011, Hamilton responded to the stewards’ decision to punish him three times in two days by quoting Ali G as saying, “Maybe it’s because I’m black.” That happened during what was arguably Hamilton’s most difficult season in Formula 1, when he was struggling with personal problems off the track.

After qualifying at the 2016 Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton left a Mercedes press conference because of what he thought was “disrespectful” media coverage. The Brit caused a stir at the last race in Monaco when he publicly criticized his team.

At today’s press conference, Hamilton admitted that “the best things are not always said in the heat of the moment.”

And Hamilton is not alone. One of the Briton’s rising F1 stars, 23-year-old George Russell, recently received backlash for his actions in the immediate aftermath of his high-speed crash with Valtteri Bottas at Imola.

Is it time to change how F1 media works?

Is it time to brush up on the traditional format of press conferences as the situation in Osaka puts the spotlight on the dynamics between top athletes and the media?

“I think it’s a really good question, but I didn’t think about it because I only came here to do my job,” replied Hamilton when asked if any changes in F1 should be considered .

“I learned the hard way and made a lot of mistakes, and I still do that today. Still standing behind a camera can be daunting. It’s not the easiest.

“Especially if you’re introverted and struggling to be under this pressure. Some people feel less comfortable with it than others.

“I’ve learned over the course of my time here and I keep trying to learn how to get involved. But as I said, when I was young I was thrown into the pit with no guidance or support.

“What I know is that when young people come in they experience what I do. And I don’t necessarily know if that’s best for them. I think we need to support more. It shouldn’t be a case of pressuring you.

“There are scenarios where she was uncomfortable with Naomi’s scenario of not doing something, for example, and the backlash is ridiculous.

“People don’t take into account that she is human and that is what she says she [she’s] not good enough to do this now. I think that really needs to be looked into and how people react to that and are more likely to support and uplift them.

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo believes it has become “very easy to see someone as just their job, but not from a broader aspect of who they really are in their daily life,” and urged the media to be more considerate.

“People always have other things going on,” he added. “Such a decision just has to be respected and people just have to respect it with an open mind. If someone needs space, give it to them.

“In general, the media have to be careful how they write things. People can be very sensitive and feelings are real. Nobody seems bulletproof, so keep a few things in mind when chasing someone. ”

His McLaren teammate Lando Norris has been particularly open about fighting his own demons since arriving in Formula 1 in 2019, revealing that he feared fear and trust issues could affect his second season in the sport.

Working with a mind coach in 2019 ultimately helped alleviate some of his struggles in his first season, and Norris is now in a position where he is comfortable managing his mental health on his own.

McLaren partnered with mental health charity Mind as part of its support for the F1 campaign #WeRaceAsOne, and Norris believes great strides have been made in spreading the topic over the past year.

“We have our partnership with Mind and we do a lot of things with them, a lot of things within the team,” he explained.

“It’s not just for the drivers, it’s also for mechanics, engineers and people in the factory to have their say. So that they can say what they want to say.

“And making the whole atmosphere within the team feel better and people say what they want to say and feel better about themselves too.

“It’s changed, but only because it’s gotten more advanced and more talked about and people are more open about it and things like that. So I’m much better on my part.

“I feel better mentally. I can be sure that many in the team are too. ”

Hamilton says one of the biggest lessons he’s learned in his F1 career is that athletes should never put pressure on themselves to meet certain expectations at the expense of their mental health.

“I think a bit like Naomi, never sacrifice your personal health or mental state to what society expects you to be,” he said.

“Do what is best for you so that you stay in the right place. As long as you are respectful of what it was and I believe it always was. ”

It was refreshing and welcome to see Hamilton develop into an articulate, mature, and considerate person over the past few years.

Perhaps Hamilton’s latest comments will resonate and spark a rethink of how the relationship between the media and sports stars works.

He certainly left some food for thought.