Lewis Hamilton has opened up on how he was left ‘feeling bad’ after receiving a present from a loyal fan.
Lewis Hamilton has opened up on how he often feels bad that he isn’t able to give physical gifts to his fans.
The Brit has amassed a huge fanbase within Formula One thanks in part to winning seven world titles since his debut season in 2007. He is also widely praised for his activism.
Outside of F1 Hamilton is also a household name, and the 39-year-old regularly bumps into his supporters around the world.
Speaking in an interview with the Rolling Stone, the Mercedes driver has revealed that he frequently receives touching gifts from his fans which has left him wishing that he could do more than simply stop for pictures and autographs.
He explained: “From a driver’s perspective, for an individual or group of people to decide to support you out of only 20 [drivers]? It’s a real privilege.
“And you feel like you’re on a journey with those people that you connect with. So when you lose, you lose together, and when you win, you win together.”
Hamilton then recalled a few instances where he had been given presents from a lady who has followed him around the globe to show her support. He explained: “Most fans are so kind to go out of their way. They’ve either written me a letter, or they’re people making bracelets, or people that bring me gifts.
“I’ve got this one really sweet lady, for example, that’s travelled to quite a few of the European races, and she keeps turning up and giving me books of poems, and there’ll be a book on history, and she would have gone through and put tabs on all the important parts of the book.
“People are so, so sweet, and you feel really bad, because everywhere you go, it’s like they give, give, give, and you don’t. I don’t carry around gifts with me, and often I’ve just come from the airport.
“So you feel like when someone gives you something, you’re supposed to try and give something back, and it always feels like you’ve not done enough.”
Hamilton will be hoping to provide his fans with a gift on the track when he travels to the Baku City Circuit next weekend for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a race which he last won in 2018.
