(CNN)Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton said in a candid social media post on Thursday that he had been “struggling mentally and emotionally for a long time”.
The seven-time F1 champion wrote in an Instagram Story that he had “already had a tough year with everything that’s going on around us” and that it was “hard to stay positive at times”.
However, he also offered support and reassurance to his followers.
“I’m writing to say that it’s okay to feel the way you do, you just need to know that you are not alone and that we will get through this!” Hamilton added.
“A friend reminded me today that you are so powerful and can do anything you put your mind to!”
Hamilton, who was narrowly beaten by Max Verstappen for the F1 title last season, started this season with a third place finish in Bahrain and a 10th place finish in Saudi Arabia last weekend.
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That puts the 37-year-old, who has the most race wins in F1 history, in fifth place in the drivers’ standings ahead of next week’s Australian Grand Prix, one place behind Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
Mercedes has had a difficult start to the season and is currently 40 points behind Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship.
After Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – which was preceded by an attack on an oil storage facility near the circuit, alleged by Yemeni Houthi rebels – Hamilton spoke of his relief that the weekend was over, saying he was looking forward to “just getting out there.”
In 2020 he also spoke about his mental health struggles during the Covid-19 pandemic with a bladder system and back-to-back race weekends leading to loneliness on the Tour.
“It’s never a bad thing to ask for help when you need it or to tell someone how you feel,” Hamilton said at the time.
“Showing your vulnerable side doesn’t make you weak, instead I like to see it as an opportunity to become stronger.”
CNN’s Sammy Mngqosini and Ben Church contributed coverage.
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