PH
Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One racing star, has announced that he has given up alcohol in the hope that it will help him go back to winning ways.
Recent seasons have not been kind to the seven-time world champion, who barely lost the title to Max Verstappen in 2021 and has now gone two years without winning a race.
Despite the fact that the 38-year-old is nearing the end of his career, he feels that if Mercedes can provide him with a competitive car, he will contend for a record eighth title.
But, with Verstappen and Red Bull expected to maintain their dominance in 2024, Hamilton is trying for any advantage he can get to improve his own performance.
He now claims he gave up alcohol earlier this year, admitting that drinking has affected him in the past.
‘I’ll suffer for several days – sometimes it’ll be like three or four days,’ Hamilton told Vogue.
‘There is pressure within a social setting. You have that one shot and are like, “Damn, why did I do that?” when you get home.
‘I was like, wow, that’s kind of crazy how I’m feeling pressured. And I realised, how can I be feeling pressure at 38? Imagine young 18-year-olds. The fact is – alcohol does not help with that.
‘I don’t know if I’m going to drink again. Since I’ve stopped drinking, I’ve just been feeling so much better, so much more clarity. I sleep better, I wake up in the morning and I can still get up at 5 am.
‘I’ve always been looking for how do you get that extra 1%? As an athlete, that’s what you are always doing.’
Hamilton added that his last alcoholic drink was four months ago, with the driver recently launching his own non-alcoholic tequila brand Almave, in collaboration with Casa Lumbre master distiller Ivan Saldana.
