Lewis Hamilton has delivered a defiant statement as he prepares to embark on his 20th campaign in Formula One.
The seven-time world champion, now 41, declared on social media on Tuesday that he remains “still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream.”
The sport’s most successful driver promised there would be “no holding back” as he approaches Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
Hamilton reflected on the milestone, writing: “Twenty seasons as an F1 driver. It’s hard to even grasp the reality of that number.”
He added: “It started with a dream. A dream some called ridiculous and said would never amount to anything. Despite that, the dream never changed, and I never stopped chasing it.
“A dream has to be matched with action and, above all, belief. Belief that doesn’t break no matter what’s thrown in your face or what you come up against.
“There will always be people who doubt you, people who try to block you, but you can’t ever stop fighting.
“Twenty years filled with incredible highs and brutal lows, with more mistakes than I can count. But those mistakes made the journey even sweeter.”
Lewis Hamilton has delivered a defiant statement as he prepares to embark on his 20th campaign in Formula One
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GETTY
Hamilton added: “You hold the power to your destiny. Everything you need to succeed is within you. You will need help along the way, like I did, but that spark, that fire, is already inside you.
“I’m forever grateful for the lessons, the quiet moments, the chaos, and the many people who helped me chase and achieve my dreams.
“I’m grateful for the doubters and for the ones who tried to knock me down, too.
“I’m still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream. No holding back.”
The British driver arrives in Melbourne with something to prove following a challenging debut campaign with the Italian outfit.
Hamilton finished behind teammate Charles Leclerc in both qualifying and points standings throughout the year.
Most strikingly, the 2025 season marked the first time in his illustrious career that Hamilton failed to stand on the podium.
His struggles reached such depths that he publicly described himself as “absolutely useless” and suggested Ferrari should consider bringing in a replacement driver.
Five things to know about Lewis Hamilton | GETTY/GBNEWSHamilton’s pursuit of a record eighth world championship will depend significantly on whether Ferrari can provide machinery capable of challenging for the title.
The Maranello-based squad endured a difficult 2025 campaign but has shown promising signs during pre-season testing following substantial changes to the sport’s technical regulations.
Both driver and team will carry renewed optimism into the opening round this weekend.
Hamilton is scheduled to address the media at the official FIA press conference on Thursday ahead of the Albert Park race.
