Among all the groundbreaking achievements by Lewis Hamilton during Sunday's Formula One race, a notable few will remain etched in the memory: the emotional radio messages and the heartfelt embrace with his father, Anthony. Hamilton, the most accomplished driver in history, has experienced numerous remarkable moments since his impressive debut in 2007, but the prolonged anticipation for his 104th career victory was particularly extraordinary. This victory, his first since the contentious 2021 season, marked a 945-day and 56-race drought, and was his ninth win at the British Grand Prix, unleashing a flood of suppressed emotions.
The 39-year-old expressed his overwhelming emotions to former teammate and 2009 champion Jenson Button during a pre-podium interview, stating, "I can't stop crying." Hamilton reflected on the challenging period between 2021 and now, admitting, "There's definitely been days where I didn't feel like I was good enough or whether I was going to get back to where I am today." Later, addressing the media, he added, "I have never cried coming from a win, it just came out of me and it is a really, really great feeling. I'm very, very grateful for it."
Mercedes faced a slow start to 2024, and Hamilton's announcement of joining Ferrari in 2025 added to the tension. He discussed the times when his best efforts seemed insufficient. "We live in a time where mental health is such a serious issue and I am not going to lie, I have experienced that. There have been moments where I felt that this was it and it was never going to happen again," he confessed. In 2021, he was on track for an eighth title but was thwarted by a late safety car procedure change in Abu Dhabi, allowing Max Verstappen to secure his first championship. On Sunday, Verstappen, the championship leader, had to settle for second place.
Hamilton reflected on his emotional journey, stating, "When I came back in 2022 I thought that I was over it (2021) and I know I wasn’t. It's taken a long time for sure to heal that kind of feeling and that's only natural for anyone that has that experience. I've just been continuing to try and work on myself and find that inner peace day-by-day." For the first time, Hamilton stood for the national anthem 'God Save the King', instead of the late Queen Elizabeth, as he celebrated his victory. His parents, who have been present at many pivotal moments, were also there to share in his triumph.
"I've always had their support but to be able to see them there and share this experience, they wanted to be at my last British Grand Prix with this team that have been so incredible to us," Hamilton expressed. "So it's definitely meant the most today to have them there and to be able to share it with them." When asked to compare this win to others at Silverstone, Hamilton highlighted the 2008 race, the year of his first championship with McLaren. "I qualified terribly, well P4, but it felt like I wasn't in with a shot and then it rained and obviously I had that great feeling," he recalled. "That's the longest stint that I've not had a win... and the emotion that's accumulated over that time. So this one feels it could be one of the most special ones for me, if not the most special one."
