LONDON, UK – Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said he was left “emotionally drained” after a long and hectic Formula 1 racing season.
The British race car driver, whose heritage is Grenadian, ended the season third in the drivers’ championship, though he endured a second consecutive winless season in the cockpit for the Mercedes racing team.
“I’m not burnt out,” Hamilton said during a recent interview. “I’d rather not keep going into the season, but I think for me, I’m just more emotionally drained at the end of the year.”
Hamilton was left frustrated after the W14 car delivered multiple problems throughout the season that were difficult for the team to sort out, and Mercedes went in the wrong direction in the ground effect era from last year.
On top of it all, Hamilton said the season-ending trip from the city of Las Vegas in the United States to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for the final race was also very taxing.
“It definitely has been so difficult for everybody here, all the teams moving from Las Vegas out to (Abu Dhabi),” he said. “I think it should be better next year.
“It’s obviously a very long season. I think really with all the negativity in the world as well, it’s been quite draining just to maintain a positive mindset through the year.”
High hopes have been set for Mercedes for next year as the team tries to iron out the problems and develop a W15 car to rival the Red Bull of reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
