Hamilton reveals extent of healing needed after 2021 Verstappen clash

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that it has taken him a "long time" to recover from the feeling of controversially losing the 2021 F1 title to Max Verstappen.

The seven-time world champion lost the 2021 crown following one of the most controversial conclusions to a race in F1 history, which resulted in former race director Michael Masi leaving the FIA. 

Up until the British Grand Prix, Hamilton went 945 full days without a win. He was incredibly emotional after ending his winless streak, in what could be his final victory for Mercedes ahead of his upcoming move to Ferrari.

Hamilton has struggled since 2021 but looked back to his best in the British GP. His emotional outpour continued after celebrating his return to the top step of the podium, where he addressed whether his win was part of his 2021 healing process.

"I think only time will tell," Hamilton told select media including RacingNews365. "What I can say is that I'm not giving up. 

"I feel like I'm making the right decisions with my life, with how I prepare and how I manage my time, the decision I've taken, for example, for next year, the commitment I still have to this team and the love that I still have for this team and the love that I still have for my job. 

"I really, really love this job. And there's never going to be anything that comes close to it. And it's something I'm incredibly grateful for, to be in amongst these 20 drivers within this great sport that's having such a momentous time."

Finding 'inner peace'

Losing the 2021 title the way he did hurt Hamilton and Mercedes more than perhaps they will ever admit. 

It has taken Hamilton a significant amount of time to bounce back and get over what happened, something he believed he had done when the 2022 season started. 

However, he now concedes that he was not over losing the title to Verstappen the season after the controversial event in Abu Dhabi. 

Based on the events that unfolded, the 39-year-old believes that is understandable.

"Honestly, when I came back in 2022, I thought that I was over it," conceded Hamilton. 

"And I know I wasn't and it's taken a long time for sure to heal that kind of feeling. 

"And that's only natural for anyone that has that experience. And I've just been continuing to try and work on myself and find that inner peace day by day."