Hamilton: Wrath of emotions came up, I was in tears

His actions came in the wake of several racially fuelled incidents last year, with the backdrop of Black Lives Matter, which emotionally impacted the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion.

Hamilton reacted by wearing T-shirts with political messages while urging his F1 colleagues to kneel with him ahead of race starts. Actions that were met with mixed responses, some drivers did not take the knee but did show support for the cause, while fans were split on whether the F1 stage was appropriate platform to politicise.

Speaking to The Guardian, Hamilton reflected on his actions last year: "This wrath of emotions came up and I couldn't contain myself. I was in tears. And this stuff came up that I'd suppressed over all these years. And it was so powerful and sad and also releasing.

"And I thought I can't stay quiet. I need to speak out because there are people experiencing what I'm experiencing, or 10 times worse. Or 100 times worse. And they need me right now. And so when I did speak out, that was me letting the Black community know: I hear you and I stand with you."

Some would say that the focus on off-track issues may have impacted Hamilton's performances, but the 36-year-old did not see it that way: "I don't see it as a burden. It was definitely liberating to be able to be open and speak about things. For people to know that there's much more to me than perhaps they realised from watching me on TV.

"I feel like I was built for this. There's a reason it was suppressed over all that time. And if it happened any sooner I wouldn't be ready, wouldn't be strong enough to handle it.

"I wouldn't be able to do my job as well and do both things at the same time. But now I'm equipped with the tools to do so. I look at my niece and nephew. I look at my little cousins. And I think: How can I make things better for you guys and your friends?"