Lewis Hamilton has spoken about overcoming a period where he ‘lost sight of who I was’ in the latter stages of the 2025 Formula One season. The seven-time world champion acknowledged a psychological break, but has expressed optimism as the new campaign begins.
A Period of Despair
Hamilton admitted that his confidence and assurance had been replaced by an almost despairing bewilderment. He acknowledged that it had been something of a psychological break. “I lost sight for a second of who I was,” he said. “That person’s gone, you won’t see that person again.”
He believes it built up over a period of time. He added that it is important to pick yourself back up, evaluate where you’ve been and come back with a positive mental frame of mind.
Contrast With Ferrari Optimism
The contrast between that negativity and the optimism of the buildup to his debut season with Ferrari was marked. The fervour and anticipation of the seven-time champion donning the rosso corsa to try to end Ferrari’s interminable title drought had come to nought.
Hamilton endured the worst season of his career, finishing sixth in the drivers’ championship. He finished behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, who also comprehensively out-qualified him during the campaign. He failed to take even a podium place for the first time, and he appeared simply adrift.
His attempts to adapt to his new team ground slowly. By the close, jaded and disconsolate, he was describing it as a “nightmare” season. He also expressed his “anger and rage” at himself.
Finding Positivity Again
By the close of the season, the 41-year-old proclaimed he just wanted a break, a chance to “completely unplug from the matrix”. He spent the winter unplugging, putting his effort into personal, family and social life instead, including a burgeoning relationship with Kim Kardashian.
“The break was really positive,” he said. “It was my surroundings. It was the people I was with. It’s not my first rodeo, so it’s understanding how to flip things. It’s not that easy to do each time, but I always talk about cultivating a positive mental attitude.
“A lot of it came from training, that I’ve put more work in than anyone around me. I believe in myself and rediscove