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Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he spent weeks battling a painful neck injury after a heavy crash during pre-season testing ahead of his first Formula One campaign with Scuderia Ferrari.
Speaking before this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion disclosed that the accident occurred during testing in Barcelona in January 2025. Hamilton explained that the impact caused significant damage to his neck, leaving him in constant pain for more than two months.
"I hit the wall very hard during testing," Hamilton said. "I knocked one of the discs in my neck into the nerve."
The 41-year-old said the injury severely affected his daily life and made even simple activities difficult.
"I couldn't do much for about nine weeks," he said. "I was seeing chiropractors every day and doing physical therapy daily. I couldn't sleep because of the pain. I took painkillers, had an injection and tried everything I could to recover. Living with it wasn't easy, especially in the position you're sitting in as a racing driver."
Despite the setback, Hamilton continued preparing for his first season with Ferrari. His debut campaign proved challenging, as he failed to secure a podium finish throughout the year.
This season, however, has marked a dramatic turnaround. Hamilton has already collected four podium finishes, including victory at last week's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, signalling a return to the front of the grid.
His improved form has also strengthened his position in the championship standings. Hamilton now sits just 41 points behind 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli, the driver who succeeded him at Mercedes.
Even with his recent success, Hamilton insists he is not thinking about winning an eighth Formula One world title.
"I am not focused on the championship," he said. "My goal is to win this weekend. That has been my focus throughout last week and this week."
The British driver explained that he has devoted all of his attention to preparing for each race, sacrificing personal time to ensure he arrives in peak condition.
"I haven't been going out for dinners. My focus has been on making the sacrifices needed to arrive 100 per cent ready to perform," Hamilton said. "I am taking each race as it comes. What matters most is executing everything well, from strategy to pit stops, just as we did at the last race. I'm not thinking about what could happen over the next 15 races."
Hamilton heads into the Austrian Grand Prix aiming to continue his strong run of form and build further momentum in Ferrari colours.
