Hamilton says 'balancing emotions' key to well-being in F1

Lewis Hamilton says balancing his emotions and managing the rollercoaster of feelings he undergoes during a race weekend are key to his well-being as an individual.

Hamilton is on the eve of his seventeenth season as a Grand Prix driver, but the Briton's years of experience and his remarkable success in the sport have not made him immune to the stack of emotions that he endures whether he's on or off the job.

But managing one's mental state, even while riding a wave of success, is of the utmost importance insists the seven-time world champion.

"Success is so short-lived. You win a race then go home," he said, speaking on the 'On Purpose with Jay Shetty' podcast

"It is so intense, a stressful environment for everyone working in it. Then you go home and there is a huge come-down for one or two days later.

"Trying to balance those emotions? That emotional rollercoaster? Figuring out ways to keep it balanced is key for me."

• Read also: Hamilton remembers moment 'my whole life flashed by'

Thanks to his outstanding motorsport credentials, Hamilton has positioned himself as a political activist in the past last few years, supporting F1's quest for greater diversity, human rights or racial and inequality issues linked to specific individuals.

Hamilton feels that he's on a mission – as a public figure and as a citizen - to support and help improve "something greater than winning a race".

"It is about the bigger picture," he explained. "I am fighting for something greater than winning a race. I am fighting to change the world."

"I can’t watch the news. There are people out there doing really great things – I want to be a part of that inspirational bubble.

"Look how bad our leaders are in government! We need to inspire a next generation of thought leaders.

"I am trying to learn new tools that I didn’t have when I was a kid – I didn’t have yoga, meditation, podcasts!"

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