Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Daniel Moxon

Lewis Hamilton opens up on "terrifying" racially-motivated assault as a child

Lewis Hamilton revealed details of a vicious racist attack he suffered as a child as he opened up on how the abuse affected him as a young racer.

Hamilton is a seven-time world Formula 1 champion, but had to overcome more barriers than most just to reach the sport in the first place. As a youngster, he had to show his ability while dealing with the prejudice he and his family faced.

The Brit has previously opened up on the abuse he received from other racing rivals. An old BBC report which recently resurfaced showed him speaking as a 12-year-old, when he said he responded to name-calling by "getting them back on the track".

But in a new interview with Vanity Fair, Hamilton revealed that the racism didn't always just come in the form of verbal abuse. One time while walking to the shops in Newcastle, aged just 11 or 12, he was daydreaming when he was set upon by two people who pinned him to the ground and kicked him while shouting "go back to your country".

Hamilton explained: "Even today, I remember how terrifying it was – I really, really couldn't understand it. It was like, 'are they talking to me? I'm from here. What do they mean?'

"I could never understand it. When you're being attacked, there's this fear – there's fear, and there's anger as well because you want to get them back for the pain that they're causing you."

Lewis Hamilton regularly received racist abuse as a child (Getty Images)

Despite being on the receiving end of such a violent ordeal, young Hamilton felt like he could not even speak about it with his parents for fear of being told that he was too soft. "I never spoke about it to my parents," he added.

"I didn't speak about it to my mum – I didn't think she'd understand. And my dad, I was probably too scared to tell my dad, because I didn't want him to think I was a wuss. You know, I didn't want him to think I couldn't defend myself. I just remember a lot of times just being alone, just in tears in my room."

To this day Hamilton remains a fierce advocate for racial equality and is keen to celebrate his African roots. He is currently spending his summer break on the continent, on a journey which the Mercedes racer says has been "a grounding experience" which has helped him to "gain a new perspective on life".

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.