Recently, F1 fans voiced their disapproval of two-time Indy500 winner Arie Luyendyk after he criticized Lewis Hamilton for opening up about his mental health struggles in an interview with the Sunday Times. The 71-year-old former Dutch racing driver expressed that while he understood Hamilton’s statements, he could not personally relate to the seven-time world champion’s experiences with mental health, as he never faced such issues himself.
According to SportsMole, Luyendyk explained that he belonged to an older generation of drivers, like Max Verstappen, who handled pressure by focusing solely on racing hard. Luyendyk shared that in his time, he would deal with any struggles by talking to himself and pushing through. He added, “I think what Hamilton said is fair enough, but I cannot empathize with it. I have never had that problem. I’m from a generation where you just deal with it yourself. I’ve had dips too, but I got over them myself.”
When Luyendyk’s comments spread online, many F1 fans criticized him for dismissing Hamilton’s mental health struggles. Fans noted that Hamilton’s achievements in F1, including seven world titles and numerous records, demonstrated his ability to deal with challenges on his own. One fan referred to Luyendyk as a “has-been” making unfounded remarks, while others questioned how someone could belittle Hamilton’s success in overcoming mental health difficulties. Another fan expressed frustration over Luyendyk’s outdated views, stating that mental health is not something everyone understands, but dismissing it shows a lack of empathy.
Another comment pointed out how times have changed, with society now valuing individuals not only as athletes but as fulfilled human beings beyond their careers. The fan added that people should not pay attention to such “limited and shortsighted views.”
Hamilton had previously spoken about his struggles with mental health, revealing that he faced depression and intense pressure during his teenage years, particularly due to balancing school and motorsport while being bullied. He also mentioned that although he sought help from a therapist at one point, the experience was not helpful. Reflecting on his past difficulties, Hamilton said he would like to explore therapy again to address his mental health.
In the 2024 F1 season, Hamilton is currently ranked sixth in the standings with 174 points after the Singapore GP, having secured two race victories in the UK and Belgium this season.
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