Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton vows ‘no holding back’ ahead of his 20th season in F1
By Philip Duncan, Press Association F1 Correspondent
Lewis Hamilton has said he is “still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream” and vowed there will be “no holding back” ahead of his 20th season in Formula One.
The 41-year-old is the most decorated driver in F1 history but he will head into Sunday’s curtain-raiser in Australia with a point to prove after a poor first season at Ferrari.
Hamilton was out-qualified and out-scored by team-mate Charles Leclerc and ended the campaign without a single podium for the first time in his career.
At one stage, Hamilton even said he was “absolutely useless” and called on Ferrari to replace him with another driver.
But in an Instagram post on Tuesday, the seven-time champion wrote: “Twenty seasons as an F1 driver. It’s hard to even grasp the reality of that number.
“It started with a dream. A dream some called ridiculous and said would never amount to anything. Despite that, the dream never changed, and I never stopped chasing it.
“A dream has to be matched with action and, above all, belief. Belief that doesn’t break no matter what’s thrown in your face or what you come up against. There will always be people who doubt you, people who try to block you, but you can’t ever stop fighting.
“Twenty years filled with incredible highs and brutal lows, with more mistakes than I can count. But those mistakes made the journey even sweeter.
“You hold the power to your destiny. Everything you need to succeed is within you. You will need help along the way, like I did, but that spark, that fire, is already inside you.
“I’m forever grateful for the lessons, the quiet moments, the chaos, and the many people who helped me chase and achieve my dreams.
“I’m grateful for the doubters and for the ones who tried to knock me down, too. I’m still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream. No holding back.”
Hamilton’s hopes of the record eighth world championship he so desperately craves will rest not just on his own form but whether Ferrari can carry him to glory.
The Italian team laboured last year, but an encouraging pre-season campaign following a significant overhaul of the sport’s regulations, will fuel both them and Hamilton with confidence.
Hamilton is due to appear in the FIA news conference to preview Sunday’s race at Albert Park on Thursday.
