Lewis Hamilton has given an in-depth piece of advice to the next generation of F1 stars with young drivers such as Andrea Kimi Antonelli entering the sport next year.
At 39 years of age, Hamilton is one of the most experienced racing drivers of all time and is just about to finish his 18th year in F1.
Despite entering the twilight years of his career, Hamilton remains one of the most competitive drivers on the grid.
He proved that this weekend in the Las Vegas Grand Prix when he moved up from 10th to finish second.
Lewis Hamilton delivered some advice to the next generation
F1
Hamilton will be hoping to fight for a championship next year when he heads to Ferrari with major changes up and down the grid.
There’s an influx of young drivers entering the sport next year, including 18-year-old Antonelli taking Hamilton’s seat at Mercedes.
Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto will also be entering F1 for their first full year in the sport as part of the next generation.
Hamilton is 20 years older than some of the drivers he will be competing against next year and was asked after the Las Vegas Grand Prix what advice he would give to the youngsters.
“Don’t do absolutely everything everyone tells you to do. Ask lots of questions. Take your time,” Hamilton said.
“Don’t let the negativity get to you because, you know, people are so negative nowadays judging you non-stop.
“So stay off social media and keep your family and your closest friends close to you because they are the only ones that are your true friends and they’re going to be there for you when they go and get stuff.”
Asked to explain his comments further and whether they were in relation to anything he experienced this season, Hamilton added: “It’s not about this year. We’re talking about youngsters.
“We’re talking about 18-year-olds. And I remember when I was 22 and you’re thrown in a deep end.
Lewis Hamilton finished second at the Las Vegas Grand Prix
REUTERS
“You’ve been given training as a young driver through the younger series, but most of them probably don’t have a PR person. The team will have a PR person, but they’re not looking out for you. They’re looking out for the team.
“And so you’re thrown in the deep end and you’re trying to be nice and people take advantage of you.
“And so my guidance, like if I had a young driver and I was looking after him, I would put a lot of support around him so that people couldn’t get to him. And the socials and media and stuff would not be able to affect that young individual’s mindset.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Andrea Kimi Antonelli will replace Lewis Hamilton
REUTERS
“And I think that protecting that is really important because then I think it’s really about giving people, firstly, them getting the opportunity and not knocking them down when they make mistakes.
“Which one of you or anyone here, 18 years old, 19 years old, has not made mistakes? And it’s just that when you do it in the spotlight, it’s really, really, really tough.
“And so we should be lifting these people up and giving them not just one chance, two chances, just continue to support them and just not slating them because that’s just not nice.”