Lewis Hamilton has grown into a fully-blown megastar of the motor racing world. In an illustrious career that has spanned so many race victories, poles, fastest laps, and magical moments, the 7x champion has transcended from that little boy in Stevenage who had a dream. Today, he’s an inspiration. Someone who is looked up to by millions and millions of fans globally. But at heart, the 38-year-old is still that determined boy.

It’s been a hot second or two, though, since he left that life behind. The demands of becoming the greatest this sport has ever seen forced the Brit to swiftly abandon that childhood and pulled him from his cozy neighborhood and made him into a global icon. But now, he’s lingered back to his old stomping grounds to relive a bit of nostalgia.

Lewis Hamilton pens down emotional homage for his hometown

What Hamilton is today, is the sum total of everything his hometown gave him. His memories, his learnings, his triumphs, and his defeats are all linked to the place where he lived as he dreamt the reality we witness today. And earlier today, on Instagram, he took a trip down memory lane with an emotional and inspirational message.

Lewis on IG: "While I was back in Stevenage, I stopped by the skatepark 1 grew up going to. It's between the town centre where I learned to swim and the pond that I chased a duck into when I was six. I was only there for five minutes,… 1/2

— Sir Lewis Updates (@LH44updates) September 9, 2023

He posted pictures of himself re-visiting his old skating park, albeit for a mere 300-second stint. He wrote, “While I was back in Stevenage I stopped by the skatepark I grew up going to. It’s between the town centre where I learned to swim and the pond that I chased a duck into when I was six. I was only there for five minutes, and even in that short time all the memories came rushing back.”

“It’s amazing how quickly you become that kid again. Never forget where you’re from, and make sure to go back there, if not physically than at least mentally.”  

Hamilton isn’t just some person suffering from a bout of nostalgia. His emotional words about the place where he grew up are actually deeply rooted in the sense of community that he values so much.

When Hamilton broke character for togetherness

Generally, in the commercially driven world of F1, drivers always have had to play it safe. However, back in 2020, when George Floyd was mercilessly slaughtered, it was as if the whole black community was being targeted. And with the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement in full swing, Hamilton had this rising desire to stand up for his brethren.

The Guardian quoted Hamilton, back in 2021, as saying, “I was in tears. And this stuff came up that I’d suppressed over all these years. And it was so powerful and sad and also releasing. And I thought, ‘I can’t stay quiet. I need to speak out because there are people experiencing what I’m experiencing, or 10 times worse. Or 100 times worse.”

“They need me right now.’ And so when I did speak out, that was me letting the Black community know: ‘I hear you and I stand with you.’”

Isn’t Lewis Hamilton the greatest role model for every fan of this sport?

WATCH THIS STORY | How Fernando Alonso’s 2008 Singapore GP Win Became One of F1’s Worst Controversies – Crashgate