Her seven-time world champion F1, Lewis Hamiltontestified that as a child he was subjected to racist attacks and bullying at school, making this period the “most traumatic” of his life.

In a podcast posted online today (23/1), the 38-year-old champion, who grew up in a small town near London, said: “For me, school has been the most traumatic and difficult part of my life. They started bullying me when I was six years old. I was one of three black kids in school, and I was bullied a lot by bigger, stronger guys,” he said.

“They are attacking all the time, things, even bananas, and people who use the word“ Negro ”in complete calm are thrown into me, people do not treat me well, not knowing where I am standing. It was very hard for me,” he said.

Then Hamilton emphasized: “I did not want to come home and tell my parents that these children call me a black man or that they mocked me or beat me at school. I didn’t want my father to think I was weak.”

Hamilton, one of the greatest drivers of all time, is still the only black driver in F1. He created the Mission 44 Foundation and the Ignite organization, one of which was aimed at helping disadvantaged young people, and the other, more specifically, to promote among these young people, drivers, in partnership with Mercedes.

Source: APE/MEB