Lewis Hamilton has admitted to struggling "mentally and emotionally" in a candid social media post.
F1 icon Hamilton, 37, took to Instagram to reach out to his 27.4 million followers, encouraging those battling with their mental health to 'keep fighting'. And the seven-time world champion also referred to his own quest to remain positive amid his troublesome start to the campaign.
The Mercedes driver has recently ended a self imposed social media exile following the controversial finish to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December. The race was tainted by a dubious safety car procedure which ultimately cost Hamilton a record-breaking eighth world title, as Max Verstappen overtook him on the final lap at the Yas Marina.
After rumours he would retire amid feeling 'disillusioned' over what transpired, Hamilton confirmed in February he would be racing for the Silver Arrows again in 2022. However, the new campaign has gone anything but smoothly for the British driver, despite a third placed finish in the season opener in Bahrain.
Last weekend in Saudi Arabia, he exited Q1 for the first time since 2017, and the first time on pace alone since his McLaren days in 2009. Starting 15th on the grid, he rose to sixth during the Grand Prix only to be scuppered by a safety car, meaning an impromptu pit stop.
He eventually finished 10th, gaining just a solitary point, and it is unlikely he or the team will be able to bridge the gap in pace to Ferrari and Red Bull by the next event in Australia next week. And his recent on-track turmoil appears to be reflected in his latest post.
"It's been such a tough year already with everything that is happening around us," he said. "Hard some days to stay positive.
"I have struggled mentally and emotionally for a long time, to keep going is a contestant effort but we have to keep fighting, we have so much to do and to achieve."
"I’m writing to tell you it's to feel the way that you do, just know that we are not alone and that we are gonna get though this. A friend reminded me today, you are so powerful and you can do anything you out your mind to! We can do anything we put our mind to."
The British driver concluded the post with a poignant message to his followers. "Let's remember to live in gratitude for another day to rise. Sending you love and light."
Hamilton has long used his platform to reach out to people and campaign for change, both in and out of F1. He has regularly posted about his support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and worn t-shirts of support for various cases at Grands Prix.
Back in 2018, he called out the lack of diversity in his sport, saying: "Kids, people, there are so many jobs in this sport of which anybody, no matter your ethnicity or background, can make it and fit in."
