Hamilton: F1 lifestyle makes it hard to maintain relationships with people

Lewis Hamilton admits it's difficult to maintain relationships with people while working in Formula 1 due to the lengthy amounts of time that are spent away from home. 

Next year, F1 will contain 22 races in the calendar, the most that there has ever been in the 70 years of the world championship.

Liberty Media, the commercial rights holders of F1, has made it clear multiple times that it wishes to expand the schedule to 25 races going forward.

With the new sporting regulations for 2021 being confirmed earlier this year, it also pushed through the change that would allow the calendar to host a maximum of 21 races per year.

Hamilton says the most of the sacrifices that F1 drivers have to make compared to other sportspeople is similar - but admits there are challenges involved with all the travelling. 

"It's probably similar to most sportsmen and women," Hamilton said. "It might be slightly different that we're travelling as much as we are, and we're away for crazy amounts of time.

"That's probably an additional weight load that makes it really, really tough to hold down good relationships if things aren't quite perfect."

Hamilton affirmed that it is important to manage the obstacles that F1 drivers face with the logistics of the sport, which is something he finds difficult.

"But I think in general as athletes, having the right mindset, trying to find the right balance of how dedicated you are as opposed to resting back and enjoying quality time," he said.

"It's different for everyone, but having spoken and read about other athletes in other sports, it's quite similar for all of us. There are those who manage it, there are many athletes who have many lives in the background. 

"But I for one find that incredibly difficult, with your goal and to be as competitive as you can be, ultimately you want to be 100% committed. You never want to be less committed than the person next to you.

"There are certain things that are added on, other load-bearing things that can take away from that. There's only a certain amount of you as a whole that you can give. But it depends on how much of a sacrifice you want to make."

f1ski

Posts: 726

that's his excuse. he is difficult to just listen to as a fan

  • 1
  • Dec 10 2019 - 09:09

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Puh-leez, Pretty lame comments considering he spends most of his non-racing time traveling by his own choice. Move to Colorado, spark a spliff and play some music, and let someone else win titles if all you can do is complain about your privileged life as an F1 driver.

    • + 0
    • Dec 10 2019 - 03:38
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    that's his excuse. he is difficult to just listen to as a fan

    • + 1
    • Dec 10 2019 - 09:09

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America
16 - May 18 2025
Italy
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco
30 - Jun 1 2025
Spain
13 - Jun 15 2025
Canada
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27 2025
Belgium
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5 2025
Singapore
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America
24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4 2025
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18 2025
23 - May 25 2025
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1 2025
13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6 2025
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27 2025
1 - Aug 3 2025
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31 2025
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7 2025
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21 2025
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5 2025
17 - Oct 19 2025
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26 2025
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30 2025
5 - Dec 7 2025
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 3,533
  • Podiums 132
  • Grand Prix 232
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (41)
  • Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar