Lewis Hamilton revealed the advice he gave Lando Norris before the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver finished the race in third place behind Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, which was enough to clinch his maiden championship title.
“I’m very, very happy for him,” Hamilton told the media after the race, adding: “He did a great job this season.”
The seven-time world champion also spoke to Norris before the race and gave him some advice on dealing with the pressure of fighting for his first title.
He said: “I told him before the weekend: ‘Keep doing what you’re doing. What you’ve been doing is working, don’t change it. Go into the weekend and take it one turn at a time.’
He continued: “Obviously he did just that. Great to see another Briton win the championship. Amazing for the sport. You’ve made it to the last race. What more could you want?”
It is noteworthy that Norris’s title is the first drivers’ title for McLaren since Hamilton’s first title in 2008. Hamilton continued, saying: “They won the championship last year, but the drivers’ title, yes. Great to see McLaren back at the top.”
The McLaren driver witnessed a noticeable psychological transformation during the season. After a reset over the summer break, he came back much stronger and started to handle the pressure more easily.
When asked about Norris’ talk about mental health, Hamilton stressed the importance of people showing their vulnerability.
He said: “I can’t really comment. I don’t know what he said, so I can’t say much. I think it’s great that people show vulnerability. It’s a real thing in today’s world. It should be taken seriously.”
On the other hand, Hamilton finished the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in eighth place, which means that he finished his first season with Ferrari in sixth place with 156 points, 86 points behind his new teammate Charles Leclerc, and without climbing on the podium.
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