Hamilton: I don’t do anything by halves

Since his debut at the 2007 Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton has amassed 105 Grand Prix victories and 104 pole positions, cementing his status as one of the sport’s greatest drivers. As he prepares for his first race with Ferrari at the season opener in Melbourne on 16 March, his sights are firmly set on an unprecedented eighth F1 world title.

After driving a Ferrari F1 car for the first time at Fiorano last week, Hamilton described the moment as “one of the best feelings of my life.”

Beyond the racetrack, 40-year-old Hamilton has built a reputation as one of the world’s most marketable athletes, balancing the demands of F1 with his entrepreneurial ventures and investments. His experiences have given him a unique perspective on career development, success, and personal growth—insights he recently shared in a Q&A with LinkedIn.

When asked what advice he would give to young professionals navigating an increasingly complex job market, Hamilton emphasised the importance of personal fulfilment over external expectations, saying: “Everyone is different, so you can really only be guided by what works for you."

Hamilton continued: “As long as you follow your passions, find a challenge that makes sense for your life and that works with your skills, you’ll be fine. Don’t measure a ‘good’ job or success based on what you think you should do, look for something that will leave you fulfilled and leading the life you want to live.”

Hamilton’s ventures outside of F1—including his non-alcoholic distilled blue agave spirit, ALMAVE, and collaborations with brands like Dior—have allowed him to explore opportunities beyond motorsport. However, he is careful about where he directs his energy; he said: “It’s all about how you prioritise.

“Before you add anything else to your plate, you should first make sure you have the bandwidth and the hunger to really explore something new. For a lot of people, it makes sense to really focus in on their career, but if you’re like me and you want to try different things, then you have to take the time to figure out what that looks like.

“For me, if I take on a new project, then I need to know I’m going to be able to commit to making it a success. I don’t do anything by halves and give everything as much of my time and energy as I can, but I only have so much time away from the track, so I choose partners and projects that really align with my values and what I want to achieve," he explained

Hamilton believes that his off-track ventures have played a crucial role in shaping his mindset as a competitor; he said: “No matter what skills you pick up, you learn so much from just trying something new.

"I’ve been in my sport for so long that it would be easy to get stuck in old habits or stay in my comfort zone. Taking on new ventures, whether that’s ALMAVE or my collaboration with Dior.

"I like the challenge—it forces me to be uncomfortable, but it’s such a great opportunity to push yourself and learn. When I’m working on a project outside of my sport, I have to look at things differently, and that ultimately gives me a new perspective on what success looks like, and how I can get there.

"When I get behind the wheel after some time away, that new perspective comes with me and it drives me to better myself each and every race. I wouldn’t be the driver I am today without the work I’ve done away from the track," explained F1's most successful driver of all time.

With his Ferrari chapter about to begin at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton’s relentless drive for improvement—both on and off the track—remains unchanged. 'Still I Rise' says it all.