Lewis Hamilton is a terrific driver, and anyone who disagrees with this assertion is simply incorrect. You don’t become a record-breaking, seven-time World Champion by being a bad driver, but Lewis continues to be despised by many.
Lets take a look into why.
Lifestyle
Lewis Hamilton lives a very different life than the majority of the Formula One racers. He has his own clothing lines with Tommy Hilfiger and shares all of his looks on social media.
Hamilton is very outspoken about his veganism, having launched his own meat-free burger company. Not to mention that he is concerned about the environment and animal welfare, spending time visiting and donating to various charities and regularly speaking out about deforestation of the Amazon.
So, why is Lewis Hamilton so hated?
Well, there have been some incidents in Hamilton’s past – particularly financial – which people have taken issue with. For example, when it emerged in the so called ‘Paradise Papers’ that he had received £3.3million in a VAT refund after purchasing a private jet in 2016 (source).
There is also the issue of Lewis’s tax status. Although British, Lewis’s main residence is in Monaco, a tax haven. Over recent years there has been somewhat of a backlash in the UK when it comes to what some people (incorrectly) consider to be tax avoidance.
Let’s start with the presumption that he’s a mediocre driver. Many people believe Lewis Hamilton is nowhere near Max Verstappen when it comes to track knowledge. Many people also feel Hamilton’s success is purely due to the fact that he has always driven a competitive car.
Given that Hamilton and Verstappen have never driven the same car, how can that assumption be accurate?
Furthermore, the two drivers have quite different driving styles. Verstappen has a notably aggressive attitude, when was the last time Hamilton had a collision with someone that was entirely his fault? Especially when you compare that to Max, who has collided with cars in many races.
Lewis can be Controversial
Another reason why a lot of people dislike Hamilton is his extroverted demeanour. Lewis has a reputation for being controversial in various instances, such as when he wears a cap during national anthems. Other aspects of Hamilton’s personality that appear to irritate people are his incessant whining when things don’t go his way. I’ve noticed this a lot with Hamilton, and also drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Moaning about the car in stressful situations is understandable; but you will find that he moans about the car a lot more than other drivers do – it can be quite frustrating. “Need more power” and “I can’t make these tyres last much longer” and common complaints during a race.
Many Formula One fans are unfair to Hamilton and he receives far more criticism than other drivers. One thing about him which I have a lot of admiration for is his ability to shut off the detractors. Hamilton was booed by Ferrari fans during the entire Italian Grand Prix weekend, but he still made an effort to wish them a good day – even if they didn’t like him. He then went on to thank the fans for their passion.
Lewis is Black
The sad fact remains that being Black in any sport leaves you open to abuse, especially in the modern world of social media.
After Sir Lewis was involved in a collision with Max Verstappen during the 2021 British Grand Prix, many racists took to social media to show their true selves. Hundreds of people sent threats to the driver, called him racists names and placed monkey emojis on his social media posts. This was just weeks after people were arrested for racially abusing black footballers after the 2020 Euros Football final.
Even more sad is that the racist trolls are just the tip of the iceberg. Whilst those idiots sign up to fake Twitter accounts to throw abuse at Hamilton, there are many more simmering underneath, hiding away but still with racist opinions.
I have no doubt that there are also people working in the paddocks and garages who have racists tendencies, hence the recent sacking of a Red Bull employee for sending racist text messages.
You only need to look F1 to see the lack of diversity; there are more women in the sport now than every before, but how many Black or Ethnic Minorities are involved in the sport? How many other black drivers are there? When was the last time you saw a black mechanic in a garage?
Racism is rife in sport and to say it isn’t demonstrates a total ignorance of the society we all live in.
“Hamilton can only win in the fastest car”.
This argument is regularly punted around social media, but is factually incorrect. We can prove this from Lewis Hamilton’s early career with McLaren Mercedes.
In 2008 – the year that Lewis would become the youngest F1 champ in history – the Ferrari was the faster car. Felipe Massa won 6 of the 18 Grand Prix that year in his Ferrari, with Hamilton taking 5. Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen (also in a Ferrari) would get fast lap in 12 of those races (source).
The Ferrari was clearly the faster car, yet Hamilton would snatch victory from Massa in the final race of the season demonstrating consistency throughout the season. Compare this to Max Verstappen at the same age, still very scrappy and involved in a number of collisions.
And let’s be clear: Michael Schumacher didn’t win 91 races in the slowest car.
Oh, and also: Sebastian Vettel could only win consistently with a blown defuser producing high-levels of downforce and has never won a championship since leaving Red Bull Racing.
Conclusion
Why is Sir Lewis Hamilton So Hated? Jealousy and racism, mainly.
Lewis Hamilton is a driver who has the ability to divide a community: some people adore him, while others despise him. People dislike Hamilton because of his ego, which is a legitimate criticism; yet we may all be guilty of overlooking all of the positive aspects of his character because of one shortcoming.
You’ll never please everyone in a community with millions of followers (unless your name is Daniel Ricciardo), thus the answer to this issue is purely subjective.
Businessman, camping enthusiast, Formula One fan and Real Ale drinker.
My driver is Lewis and that’s because he can drive. Lewis will produce results in any car, we have seen it many times. He is better than the rest. People calling Lewis hypocrite because he is polite and he doesn’t allow haters to bring him down. It would be even worst on Lewis’s part if he was rude. Max and Red Bull has done so much to take Lewis down but he is still standing. I bet you have seen red bulls trick, but you are keeping quite.
Lewis is a true champion and many people do not like that, tough stop hating and get on with it. I know you don’t want him to be the in history, but he is still young and I have no doubt that he will get a couple more world titles.
Very biased article I spent most of my time reading it wondering why it was written. Hamilton is one of the best drivers of all time without a doubt but to say he never caused a crash? Remember Albon in Brazil? I’d love to see Max and Lewis in the same car to settle it
Thanks for your comment. Are not point does the article say that Lewis has never caused a crash. In fact, the word crash doesn’t even feature in the article.
Lewis Hamilton is as bigoted as this article. Firstly, F1 is not racist, it is elitist. If you have enough money to compete in go-kart leagues as a child you can go all the way. Without that financial backing you have no chance irrespective of talent. Lewis Hamilton is a mixed-race man who all but insults his own mother when supporting BLM – who make it clear they are absolutely opposed to mixed-race couples.
Hamilton was a privileged kid from a lower middle class background in sleepy suberbia. He talks about ‘racism’ experienced as a child but with no evidence, just lazy anecdote.
It is the likes of Hamilton – so desperate to fit in with black activists – that have created division that simply was not there in 2019. If he did not ‘call out’ the alleged UK institutionalised racism we hear about from the left, he would be called a coconut. Ironic that black people who integrate and make themselves a valuable part of our society and country are loathed by the ‘usual suspects’. when the likes of Hamilton, or Ashley Banjo or Idris Elba claim – again without evidence – that they had to ‘work harder’ than white people for their success, they are being as racist as it is possible to be.
Thats why Hamilton is loathed, he is a lazy, anecdotal victim of nothing more than a fabulous childhood. Like many very rich black though, the guilt they feel hacing made something of their lives can only be repaid to the black community by helping to destroy the very society that gave them everything.
The most racist people in the UK are not white.
Thank you for your comment.
The argument over whether F1 is racist depends on your opinion. I agree it is elitest. I also think it has racist elements. The lack of BAME people in the paddock support this. It’s not inclusive.
BLM do not make it clear they are against mixed-race couples – utter tripe.
You have no idea if he experienced racism as a child but it’s much more likely than your ignorant ability to accept something which you cannot personal imagine.
Sadly, you have uncovered your true identity here: “It is the likes of Hamilton – so desperate to fit in with black activists”. Says it all. Next you’ll be calling him ‘woke’.
You are clearly here for an agenda other than to make your feelings about Lewis clear and I suspect you have your own agenda…one which is not welcome.