Lewis Hamilton tells Expo Dubai crowd he has come to fight for eighth title

Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton told cheering fans in Dubai that he was ready to fight for his eighth championship title this season.

On Monday, Hamilton visited Expo 2020 Dubai for a short talk at Al Wasl Plaza, where thousands of excited fans turned up to see their sporting hero.

He shared his thoughts on the racing season ahead, which begins in Bahrain next weekend, his car and what motivates him to continue to race at the highest level.

“My off season has been a bit different. Abu Dhabi was a difficult period of time. I needed to re-centre and focus,” he said.

“My whole life has been about winning. I’ve had this mentality of always wanting better but now I’ve realised winning is not everything and losing can help you grow.

“Don’t be afraid of failure.”

When asked what winning his eight title would mean, Hamilton, 37, paused before answering.

“Everything,” he said.

“I’ve come back to fight for the eighth.

“It’s impossible to know what the future holds but doing something no one else has done before [in the sport] would be mind-blowing.”

Lewis Hamilton during the first day of Formula One pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on Thursday, March 10, 2022. AFP

Hamilton, who plans to produce a documentary about himself, told cheering fans to always believe in themselves, but said it was important to strike a “good balance between work and life”.

He lost the championship to Max Verstappen in the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 12, but in February denied he had said he would quit Formula One.

Speaking about his 16 years as a Formula One driver, Hamilton said while his first championship win was memorable, he was too busy to enjoy it.

“I’d say my last win was my favourite as