Hamilton admits to long lasting 'mental and emotional' struggles

Lewis Hamilton's difficult start to his 2022 campaign has encouraged the seven-time F1 world champion to open up about his mental and emotional struggles.

After spending the winter in social hibernation following his title defeat in Abu Dhabi last year, Hamilton kicked off his 2022 season on the back foot due to his Mercedes team's troubles.

The Briton salvaged a podium finish in Bahrain, but last weekend in Saudi Arabia the Brackley squad struggled to mitigate the downforce and porpoising issues impacting its W13.

Hamilton's Q1 knock-out in qualifying in Jeddah and his tenth-place finish represented his worst race weekend in nine seasons with Mercedes.

"It has been such a tough year already with everything that is happening around us," Hamilton wrote on Instagram. "Hard some days to stay positive.

"I have struggled mentally and emotionally for a long time, to keep going is a constant effort but we have to keep fighting. We have so much to do and to achieve."

• Read also: Mercedes explain Hamilton's botched qualifying in Jeddah

The 37-year-old's F1 troubles have emerged against a backdrop of global worries, at the center of which is the war in Ukraine.

But last weekend's missile attack near Jeddah, while F1's FP1 was in full swing, did little to alleviate Hamilton's mental comfort. After last Sunday's race, the Mercedes driver said: "I just want to go home".

"I am writing to tell you it is OK to feel the way you do, just know that you are not alone and that we are going to get through this," Hamilton continued on Instagram.

"A friend reminded me today, you are so powerful and you can do anything you put your mind to. We can do anything we put our mind to.

"Let's remember to live in gratitude for another day to rise. Sending you love and light."

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