F1 News

Hamilton reveals nine year old friend died in karting

Tragic memory for Lewis Hamilton: 'My karting friend died at 9-years-old'

27 June at 18:06
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Lewis Hamilton reflected on the recent tragic event in motorsport with the death of a nine-year-old. Hamilton explained how a different incident happened to one of his friends when he was younger. The friend was also nine. He went on to highlight how the sport has moved forward in terms of safety.

Tragic memory for Hamilton

Earlier in June, a young motorcycle rider died after an incident in Intelargos. This happened to the nine-year-old whilst practising for a round of the Honda Junior Cup. Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, many drivers were asked to reflect upon this incident. Hamilton revealed that a similar event happened when the Brit was nine years old. 

"It's obviously devastating to hear that. I remember when I was racing when I was nine, and a nine-year-old died. It was one of my friends," Hamilton told GPblog and others in Austria.

"This recent incident raised questions about how young children should be when racing.  "I'm pretty sure parents do realise how dangerous it is. My dad didn't want me to ride bikes, just knowing how dangerous it is. When you're at a go-kart race, your parents don't have any nails left afterwards. But it's how the sport has always been. The sport continues to move forward. I think we always have to look at safety, as always, which I think the FIA do a great job," Hamilton concluded.