'I use it as fuel' - Hamilton explains approach to dealing with criticism amid new chapter with Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton has detailed his approach to dealing with criticism, with the seven-time World Champion stating that he uses negative comments as “fuel” as he continues to focus on forging his own path.

Hamilton featured heavily in the headlines before the 2025 season was even close to beginning, having announced his blockbuster switch to Ferrari prior to the 2024 campaign getting underway.

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And while the move sparked plenty of reaction from across the motorsport world, Hamilton has insisted that any critical remarks – not only in recent times but throughout his extensive career in the sport – have simply spurred him on further.

“Naturally in our sport, criticism is something that everyone receives,” the 40-year-old explained during pre-season testing in Bahrain. “I think I’ve probably received a lot more of it perhaps throughout my career.

“I’m just in the mindset [that] I just keep my head down, keep doing what I’m doing. I know that I’m growing each day, I know I’m bound to make mistakes – I’m only human.

“But one thing I’m proud of is that I have the drive, I have the focus, I’m able to admit when I’m wrong, and I know that tomorrow I will work to be better.

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“It really doesn’t matter to me, some of the comments that have come out over my career – it’s not just been this past 12 months or so. I just use that as fuel.”

Hamilton is now well into the beginnings of his headline-making move to Ferrari, having officially began work at the Scuderia in January. When pushed on whether the romanticism that the team brings has lived up to his expectations since joining, the Briton responded: “It definitely has.

“It’s one thing seeing it from outside, but then when you’re actually in it, it’s pretty extreme, it’s pretty incredible.

“Just from speaking to the whole team, seeing the whole team at the factory all in one space and seeing how passionate and excited everyone [is], walking around all the different departments… people who just live and breathe Ferrari.

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“It’s what you grow up dreaming of getting to work at, those smaller places and towns in Italy where they’ve grown up dreaming of one day being there. [You can see] how proud they are to work there, and how much pride they take in their work is really beautiful to see.

“The Tifosi, I could see it obviously watching Charles [Leclerc] and Carlos [Sainz] over the years and with Sebastian [Vettel], but to be on the receiving end of it is a new experience that I couldn’t have imagined exactly.”

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