What are the pivotal moments in Hamilton's career? The driver reveals all

F1 News

Lewis Hamilton discusses F1 career changes
8 September at 20:00
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  • Jenny Garnett
  • Editor

Lewis Hamilton's impressive Formula 1 career has been both incredibly successful and incredibly long. Recently, Hamilton sat down to discuss the key moments in his career and how he finds courage to make difficult decisions. 

Hamilton discusses key career decision: ‘Pretty much everyone told me to stay’

Speaking with sports journalist Georgie Ainslie in the Performance People podcast on YouTube, Hamilton reflects on his most important decisions which have defined his long F1 career and his motivations behind them. 

When asked to pinpoint a standout moment in his career, Hamilton reveals how his decision to move from McLaren to Mercedes for the 2013 season changed his career. “It would have probably been when I decided to join Mercedes. There was a specific time, and I was in Thailand at the time, between the race after Singapore and that’s when I made the decision. I was like, I’m going to take the leap of faith and go with it regardless of what people say.”

The British world champion reflects on the criticism he intially received for his decision, “Pretty much everyone told me to stay, but I went with my gut and my intuition and it was the best thing for me... As a World Champion, I think people were like ‘This is the worst decision you can make, this is not a great team and your career is over.’ All the pundits, all the media outlets, all the fans, everyone was like, ‘Your career is over!’ Then it went well and everyone was like, ‘This is the best decision you’ve ever made!’”

His motivation for the switch came from a hunt for a challenge. "I just loved the challenge. I thought that where I was I didn’t feel like I was being challenged enough. Going into a really uncomfortable position, getting out of comfort zone is what I love to do”

The challenge definitely paid off with the British driver now being the most successful driver in the history of the sport.  Although he does not mention his decision announced in February 2024 to move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season after 12 years at Mercedes, it is easy to draw links between his motivation for switching teams in both 2013 and 2025. 

Hamilton will finish his final season with Mercedes this year before moving to drive for Ferrari in 2025.