Lewis Hamilton has declared he is "still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream" and vowed there will be "no holding back" as he embarks on his 20th season in Formula One.
The 41-year-old, widely regarded as the most decorated driver in F1 history, heads into Sunday’s curtain-raiser in Australia with a renewed determination after a challenging previous season with Ferrari.
Hamilton was notably out-qualified and out-scored by his team-mate Charles Leclerc, concluding the campaign without a single podium finish for the first time in his illustrious career.
At one point, he even admitted to feeling "absolutely useless" and called on his team to consider replacing him.
However, in a reflective Instagram post on Tuesday, the seven-time world champion shared his perspective on two decades in the sport.
"Twenty seasons as an F1 driver. It’s hard to even grasp the reality of that number," he wrote.
"It started with a dream. A dream some called ridiculous and said would never amount to anything. Despite that, the dream never changed, and I never stopped chasing it. A dream has to be matched with action and, above all, belief. Belief that doesn’t break no matter what’s thrown in your face or what you come up against. There will always be people who doubt you, people who try to block you, but you can’t ever stop fighting.
"Twenty years filled with incredible highs and brutal lows, with more mistakes than I can count. But those mistakes made the journey even sweeter. You hold the power to your destiny. Everything you need to succeed is within you. You will need help along the way, like I did, but that spark, that fire, is already inside you.
"I’m forever grateful for the lessons, the quiet moments, the chaos, and the many people who helped me chase and achieve my dreams. I’m grateful for the doubters and for the ones who tried to knock me down, too. I’m still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream. No holding back."
Hamilton’s pursuit of a record eighth world championship will hinge not only on his own formidable talent but also on whether Ferrari can provide him with a car capable of challenging for glory in his final season with the team.
While Ferrari laboured last year, an encouraging pre-season campaign following significant regulation changes has instilled confidence in both the team and Hamilton.
He is scheduled to appear in the FIA news conference to preview Sunday’s race at Albert Park on Thursday.
