Truthfully, when I decided I wanted to write about this, Lewis Hamilton winning his seventh world championship, I wasn’t sure where to start. But, after staring at the blinking cursor for a bit, what ended up on the screen first was — “It’s not just about winning… ”

As I sat there and typed, paused and pondered, it dawned on me that the reason I typed that was that it was so much more than just another win.

I was first acquainted with Formula 1 because my father loves cars and racing. Every Sunday morning, the loud sound of those cars would be blaring from the television as the racers shot around the racetrack at 200 km/hr. By the time I was in my teens, daddy had become a regular in-person spectator at the races. Every year, I would get all the F1 paraphernalia, the Mercedes gear, of course, t-shirts, caps and all. He fell so much in love with fast cars that he ended up in Germany doing racing lessons and ultimately buying AMG’s “most powerful naturally aspirated production series engine” after laying his eyes on it there.

Subsequently, the skid marks on the road were undeniably from his car tyres, going at what felt like lightning speed in the car with me. It was something we could bond over. Something we both enjoyed. Something that certainly gave me a thrill like nothing else. This had me even more enthralled in the excitement of it all, so by the time college came around; I was team Mercedes and team Lewis.

Four days ago, when he sped over that finish line, he and the rest of the world erupted with emotion, in awe of the record he just broke.

What I felt, however, was more than just thrill and excitement. I felt pride. I was so proud, proud like he was my own family.

Reflecting on his journey to get there, I felt so much joy for him because I knew it wasn’t always easy. A couple of years ago, I watched an interview with him, and he spoke lovingly about both his parents. But what stood out to me was hearing him talk about the sacrifices his dad made to ensure he would be the best he could be. I remembered him discussing how challenging the relationship was with his father, them working so closely together and how they eventually overcame it. When we see successful people, we often imagine them having an easy life, or we tend to discount their struggles. I know that working with a parent so closely can be difficult and emotionally taxing. So I connected with him on a level that more than just the excitement of car-racing.

It’s not just about winning… It’s about what winning means.

As I remembered that interview so vividly, the gratitude and humility in his voice, I was reminded why that win was so important, so rewarding to me –

It was a reminder that I too, can cross the finish line.

Sometimes, it’s about what you do after the win, when all eyes are on you.

Lewis Hamilton is a 7-time world champion. He is the best driver of this generation. And every time Lewis Hamilton wins a race, the first thing he does is thank his team and let them know he couldn’t have done it without them. After 94 wins, he is still gracious, and that’s what winning means. After 94 wins, he is still fighting for human rights, civil rights, animals rights and environmental issues – doing something that many people with his platform don’t do.

Sometimes, it’s about what the winner represents.

Lewis Hamilton is a black man who didn’t come from a wealthy family and started in a sport which required tremendous financial resources. Despite that, he has the most wins ever in what was considered a ‘white man’s sport’. We often hear the words: “Representation matters” – Little brown and black kids need to see that their heroes and role models look like them, and last Sunday, the 15th of November 2020, they sure did.

It’s not just about winning.

Sometimes, it’s about what winning means. It’s about the lives you inspire because of your determination. It’s not about all the trophies, but the work that is done to get them. It’s not about the last lap; it’s about all the laps it takes to get there. It’s not just about an individual but what that individual means to his family, to his team and every single person watching.

Often, winning is a reminder. A reminder that no dream is too big or unattainable for a person willing to try hard enough.

“Don’t listen to anybody that tells you can’t achieve something. Dream the possible, speak it into existence and you’ve gotta work for it. You’ve gotta chase it, and you’ve gotta never give up. Never doubt yourself!” —Lewis Hamilton

PS. Dear Lewis, if you ever read this, it has been an honour and a pleasure to watch you race, to see you win and to see you break more than F1 records.

#F1 #LewisHamilton #7WorldChampionships