Lewis Hamilton lambasts F1 peers for 'talking smack' and lacking empathy

Lewis Hamilton has scolded certain former F1 drivers and even some of his peers still racing in the championship for "talking smack" about younger drivers still establishing themselves.

Hamilton expressed his pride in the crop of young drivers breaking through for how they handle the trials and tribulations that come with racing in the most visible form of motorsport in the world, calling out those who have "no empathy" despite having shared that same experience.

It is a subject the seven-time F1 drivers' champion feels passionately about, and it is something he has addressed before.

When Hamilton emerged almost two decades ago, many former drivers were hard on him, a practice that has continued to this day, with pundits routinely outspoken about his performance and career.

In the wake of Kimi Antonelli winning his first F1 title at just 20 years of age, the Ferrari driver was asked for his feelings about witnessing the next generation make their mark.

"It doesn't make me reflect on my career; I think I'm just really proud to see new people coming through, young drivers," Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365, before taking the opportunity to send a clear message.

"I see a lot of these ex-Formula 1 drivers, or older Formula 1 drivers, racing drivers, just talking smack about young people all the time.

"And even though they have gone through something similar, they just have no empathy, and I always wanted to make sure that I would not be that type of driver.

"So I always want to praise for what's deserved, and it's been amazing to see that all these young drivers, even further down the grid and in the other teams, they're all showing up every single week with all the pressures that they have."

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Hamilton: 'I really respect' their tenacity and resilience

Following the packed rookie class of 2025, there is a good mix of young and experienced drivers currently racing in F1.

Hamilton voiced his respect for the cohort of drivers that, in addition to Antonelli, includes Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar and Franco Colapinto, who have since been joined by Arvid Lindblad and Rafael Camara.

"Of course, we're very, very privileged as racing drivers, but there are massive challenges to arrive and keep your head up and keep failing and getting back up, and they're all doing that with real humility and grace, I think," Hamilton added.

"And, of course, they're making mistakes along the way, but this is the pinnacle of motorsport.

"It is the hardest platform to do well, and it's so easy to make mistakes. The easiest is to drop the ball, but I can understand how it is for each of them just getting up and picking up and just continuing to push. So I really respect that."