Top 70 Lewis Hamilton Quotes

There are times when you are growing through experiences, but sometimes there is a point of diminishing returns in terms of growth.

When I first started in Formula 1, I tried to ignore the fact I was the first black guy ever to race in the sport. But, as I’ve got older, I’ve really started to appreciate the implications.

When I was younger, all of my family’s money went into racing. We were never a stylish family. We never went shopping, because all the money went into buying tires and fuel and all of that.

I hate losing. It doesn’t matter if it’s racing or playing Ping-Pong – I hate it.

I’m an extremist so I’m either hated or loved. I think it’s down to when I first got to Formula One not always knowing what I was saying, saying things that mean one thing but people were taking the other way and then people don’t forget.

Equalising performance between teams runs completely counter to the idea of F1 and would be very unfair for us.

I’m just super competitive. Squash, tennis, water skiing, computer games… Even if I played you at pool, I’d have to win.

I have so much energy. I train, I travel, I’m learning about music and fashion, reading a lot. I don’t want to miss anything. I want to experience everything.

I get kids from all different cultures and nationalities coming up to me now, all wanting to be F1 drivers. They feel the sport is open to everyone.

Going for a really long run, a bike ride, or cross-country skiing helps me get away from all the noise. I tell myself, ‘The pain you’re feeling, just enjoy it because it’s going to help you across that finish line first.’ If you’re having a crap day, go for a run. It makes a big difference.

I enjoy trying to develop a car and Mercedes are one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world.

Tupac is my favorite artist, and he had mad style.

Everyone has complicated lives, but the more you can simplify it and make it work for you, the better it is going to be.

I had a lot of racism growing up where I grew up. Bullied at school. It definitely encouraged me. It’s like battle wounds – you come out the other side, and it just makes you tougher.

Generally, I hate training – just like most people, I guess. I try to make it fun and varied.

I’m keen on hiking. And in Monaco, I also like water skiing, wakeboarding, and jet-skiing, which are all pretty good for your arms, legs, and core stability.

I’m happy to race against anyone.

When I think about greatness I just know Ayrton Senna. He was great.

If Ferrari wanted me, they would have approached me. I want to work with people who want me. If they don’t want me, it is no problem.

I love all of the Marvel comics movies.

I train to quite an intense level because Formula 1 is so physical – the G-forces, the demands on your body. Your heart rate is 150, 160 through the whole race. On qualifying lap, your heart rate can be up to 180, 190, under tough conditions.

Ayrton Senna was my favorite driver who I wanted to be like.

I listen to music before every race. Generally, there will be a song I’ll get into over the weekend, and I play it all weekend, particularly when I’m getting ready for a race.

People say I have an aggressive style, and sometimes I don’t think that is all just me. I think it’s partly because I watched Senna when I was young, and I thought, ‘This is how I want to drive when I get the opportunity.’

Lots of other drivers like cycling, but I’m not so keen. I have some really cool bikes, but I’m just not in love with it like Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso.

My dad wanted me to have a better life than he had ever had. He wanted us to succeed so badly. And I never wanted to let him down.

Formula 1 is about running to the maximum.

When you’re driving on a normal track, you can see the braking point from 500 m. away.

On my back, I have the cross and angel wings: rise above it, no matter what life throws at you. And also, you know, Jesus rose from the grave.

I started playing guitar when I was 13. I’d written a few songs on the guitar over some time. I’d written a book of poetry, and I got a book of lyrics that I had when I was a kid.

You can knock me down, but I get up twice as strong.

We have to be extremely fit to race in F1.

I genuinely have always had support from all of my team. I have never had any complaints from them.

If I don’t travel, if I stay at home for a week, I would go out of my mind. That is just the way I am. I love to be on the move, and I am fortunate that I have friends all over the world.

People need to remember that I am the first black driver in F1, so I am obviously going to be different to past drivers.

I really like to play to squash, because it’s competitive, and I like basketball. I’m friends with a guy in L.A. called Andrew Bynum, who used to play for the L.A. Lakers NBA team. We play together sometimes.

I like wearing things that other people wouldn’t want to wear, to be a bit edgy.

When I’m driving, the fewer distractions there are, the better it is to focus on the job in hand.

I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed. But I’m hungry for more.

A couple of my mechanics have become vegan because I’ve done it. One of my barbers, too.

Racing is what I love, so it’s pretty simple. I want to keep doing it and keep winning.

Fashion is a growing love that probably started when I got into my 20s.

I have always wanted to learn the piano, but because I travel so much, I can never get any consistency of lessons. So everywhere I go, if I can find a piano, even if it is in the lobby of a hotel or something, I go on YouTube and pick some songs to learn.

People might not know, but F1 drivers have new helmets made throughout the season. Usually, the design is the same, but I like to do something special for Monaco.

There have been some ups and downs. I’ve not always had it my own way. That’s the way racing is supposed to be.

What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to learn about losing and having bad races.

All in all, racing with lift and coast is actually harder.

I started watching Formula 1 with my dad when I was just four or five years old. I loved cars.

I don’t think you can fully call yourself a vegan if you wear leathers.

Formula 1 is the sort of place where people tend to have an opinion about everything, and usually, they tend to believe their own opinion is the right one, even if it relates to someone else.

I think it’s a shame that people are so quick to put you in a box; sometimes it’s as if you do one thing, and that’s all you’re allowed to do.

The way I drive, the way I handle a car, is an expression of my inner feelings.

It’s a pretty cool feeling to be the person to knock down a barrier – just like the Williams sisters did in tennis or Tiger Woods in golf.

Whether it’s with my engineers in the team, my home life, or my friends, I don’t like things to get complicated – and one good example would be the steering wheel in my Mercedes Formula 1 car.

Racing is very physical.

Sometimes it takes time to find people in the sport who share the same opinions and approach to racing as me.

Number one is a great thing, and I’ll always know that I’m number one, but 44 is my favourite number, so I want to keep it on the car.

Since I started driving in F1 in 2006-07, the cars have got slower and easier to drive.

I like taking risks. I like trying new things, whether it be style or restaurants or whatever.

Every lap is different.

Sometimes, I arrive at races more energetic and clear-minded than ever, and then I have a terrible race. And the opposite is also true.

Everyone loves a winner. That’s just how the world is. And Ayrton Senna was one of the greatest winners this sport has ever had.

When you get out of the car after the feeling that you have after leading the race, and the car fails, it’s pretty hard to say positive things all the time.

You just need to be accepted for who you are and be proud of who you are and that is what I’m trying to do.

Despite the name, ‘lift and coast’ does not mean cruising. You’re trying to be as fast as you can, and you’re still going through the corner on the limit, but you have to approach the corner slightly differently; otherwise, you won’t make the end of the race.

I don’t believe I have a playboy life.

It’s important for everyone to stand up for what they believe in.

I feel equal to Mexicans, Asians, everyone. That’s the kind of positive message I want to get out.

It takes me forever to read a book. I have such a small attention span.

Music’s been a huge passion of mine since I was really young. I started playing guitar when I was thirteen.