Lewis Hamilton’s British Grand Prix triumph will have re-energised the seven-time F1 champion after conceding to mental health struggles in the wake of his controversial 2021 title defeat to Max Verstappen.
Hamilton ended a two-and-a-half-year wait for his 104th grand prix victory by taking the chequered flag at Silverstone on Sunday, and in doing so setting a new record of nine for most wins by a driver at one particular race.
What was striking was the raw emotion displayed by Hamilton who broke down in tears on occasions, in particular in the arms of father Anthony after stepping out of his Mercedes.
Hamilton later conceded to the turmoil he had faced since his last race win in Saudi Arabia in 2021, the event before the one in Abu Dhabi when a contentious call by then race director Michael Masi saw the 39-year-old miss out on a record-breaking eighth championship, whilst Verstappen won his first.
Andy Priaulx, a three-time World Touring Car champion, who is now a director of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, feels Hamilton has shown remarkable mental strength to keep going and prove himself again.
“These moments prompt you, keep you centred and motivated,” said Priaulx, speaking to RacingNews365.
“Lewis winning after two and a half years….honestly, I said to my wife after that [2021] championship that it was taken away from him, and that must have been very hard for him.
“It just does something to you. It must have taken away so much of that inner passion. It’s very hard, when you’ve been through something like that, to come out the other side, and I think he’s shown a lot of determination to continue.”
Priaulx feels in the twilight of Hamilton’s career the win could prove a late turning point and relight the fire for the remainder of this year, and ahead of a move to Ferrari next year when his fellow Briton will be 40.
“That win might just re-energise and reinforce his belief that it’s still possible,” added Priaulx.
“I can imagine, for Lewis, it would have been very, very hard for him to come to terms with what happened, and the way it happened, and after what was probably one of his best seasons.
“I can only relate because at some point you’re driving with an indomitable willpower to win, when you use everything you have in your body and your spirit, and your energy goes into that season, and it is very hard to recover. It does knock it out of you.
“To not retire at that point, but to come back and continue, to keep plugging away, just shows the quality of the guy.
“Now he’s had that win again, and it was a big win, his belief will be reinforced, the shoulders will drop a bit, and maybe good things can happen again for him going forward because he’s had a tricky time.”