Lewis Hamilton revealed during an interview with Vogue that he’s not touched alcohol in four months, after previously feeling like he was being pressured into drinking.
The seven-time World Champion recently launched Almave, a non-alcoholic tequila which allows him to enjoy a drink without the side effects of a hangover in the morning.
It’s the latest change Hamilton has made to his life to ensure that he’s performing at his very best in the car, something he has to be at given just how competitive Formula 1 currently is.
To take the fight to Max Verstappen and Red Bull next season, Hamilton has to be better than good, given how superior the three-time World Champion is.
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He admitted that when he did drink alcohol, he’d often “suffer for several days”, whilst he suddenly started questioning why he was “feeling pressure” to drink at 38 years old.
The 103-time race winner has been feeling significantly better since stopping drinking, to the point that he’s unsure if he’ll ever touch liquor again.
Hamilton certainly isn’t in a position where he wants to deal with the consequences of drinking, hence why Almave has become a product.
“I’ll suffer for several days – sometimes it’ll be like three or four days,” Hamilton told Vogue, when discussing why he’s stopped drinking.
“There is pressure within a social setting. You have that one shot and are like, “Damn, why did I do that?” when you get home.
“I was like, wow, that’s kind of crazy how I’m feeling pressured. And I realised, how can I be feeling pressure at 38? Imagine young 18-year-olds. The fact is – alcohol does not help with that.
“I don’t know if I’m going to drink again. Since I’ve stopped drinking, I’ve just been feeling so much better, so much more clarity. I sleep better, I wake up in the morning and I can still get up at 5 am.
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“I’ve always been looking for how do you get that extra 1%? As an athlete, that’s what you are always doing.”
Hamilton was spotted drinking Almave during the recent Mexican Grand Prix, with the product having been released ahead of the event.
It’s a beverage which allows Hamilton to enjoy a drink during a Grand Prix and still be in perfect condition for the race, allowing him to perform to his maximum.