Sir Lewis Hamilton has taken to Instagram to send more inspiration and positivity to his followers as he prepares for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Hamilton himself has had to traverse some tough times in 2022 as he tries to tame the erratic W13 car that is lacking in comfort and performance, and it has yielded just one podium for the 37-year-old.
Boatloads of misfortune have befallen the Briton, including last time out in Monaco, when he was denied a final qualifying run due to a red flag.
He was then involved in contact with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon – for which the Frenchman received a penalty – and then spent the majority of the afternoon stuck behind the slow-moving Fernando Alonso in the other Alpine.
Hamilton went on to finish the race eighth as he was out-performed for the sixth time this season in race trim by team-mate George Russell, but it is onto the next one for the seven-time champion, and he has been hard at work on the simulator preparing for Baku.
Posting a selfie on his Instagram story of him sat in the sim, he posted an inspiration message of strength and unity to his 28 million followers.
“No matter what you are facing, don’t ever give up!” he wrote.
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“I know how easy it is to do so, you wouldn’t be human if it didn’t cross your mind.
“But let’s say [middle finger] to giving up and push on ahead! You can do it, we can do it, we in this together.”
The problems Mercedes are facing have been persistent since the start of the season, and it has left them far adrift of Ferrari and Red Bull on the timing screens and in the championship, but Hamilton has set the British Grand Prix as the target to finally be on par with the front-running pace.
“I hope by the time we get to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone we will have the car as we want it – to be able to fight with Ferrari and Red Bull,” he said.
“It would be nice if we can give them a run for their money at our home race.
“I know that work is going on tirelessly in the factory to make progress with the car. And I have no doubt we will get it right sooner or later.”
Hamilton is currently sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, just two points ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris after the 22-year-old’s excellent P6 in Monaco.