Lewis Hamilton admits dealing with a mental rollercoaster during F1’s forced hiatus and questioning his motivation to carry on racing.
Hamilton is heading into his 14th year of Grand Prix racing, and barring a complete annulment of the season, the Briton will target a seventh world title, a feat that would equal the outstanding achievement of the great Michael Schumacher.
Like his colleagues, the Briton is patiently waiting at home for clarity on when and where the 2020 campaign will kick off.
But the extended down time, while partly devoted to training, has produced whims of introspection during which Hamilton has called into question his own motivation.
Why Lewis Hamilton is still F1’s leading love/hate figure
“I have days when I wake up and feel groggy, I don’t feel motivated to work out,” he explained in a Mercedes video on YouTube.
“I feel, ‘Jeez, where are we going? What’s next? Should I continue racing?’
“I think all these different things, and then I’m like ‘Damn it!’, and the next hour, or whatever, it passes, and I’m like ‘Damn! I love what I do! Why would I ever consider not continuing?’”
“Mentally it’s really about ultimately feeling good about yourself. It’s about finding a way to make sure you love yourself.
“You have to really be able to love yourself and be comfortable on your own.”
A candid Hamilton admits his daily life in lockdown has been mainly about himself, psychologically and physically.
“I’ve been really spending time trying to take time for me, making sure that I appreciate me, acknowledging things that you do well, acknowledging when you do well, acknowledging also when you fail and you don’t do it so great,” he said.
“It’s OK. And not being so hard on yourself, all these different things.
“If we are not improving and growing during these days then what are we doing? You’re obviously just wasting your time sitting on your backside.
“Nothing’s going to get handed to any of us. We’ve got to go out there and get whatever it is we want, and you’ve got to want it more than the person you’re fighting against.”
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter