'Celebrities Also Have Feelings,' An Emotional Lewis Hamilton Hints At Off-Track Troubles In Life

Speaking for the first time since his social media backlash, Lewis Hamilton revealed on Friday that it "wasn't the best feeling at the moment," before he also mentioned that "a lot is going on in my life right now."

A few days back, the reigning Formula One (F1) champion took to Instagram to encourage his 13.2 million followers to follow him into veganism, citing the current bad state of the planet. He was majorly criticized for doing so.

Hamilton's comments also received some brutal reactions from his former Mercedes teammate, Fernando Alonso. "I think I would keep my eating habits to myself. We all know the lifestyle that Lewis has, and that Formula One drivers take 200 planes a year. You can’t then say ‘don’t eat meat'," said Alonso, reacting to Hamilton's Instagram stories.

Hamilton, who has reached Mexico for the week's race, has been struggling to deal with his recent social media fallout.

"Like everyone, I have up and down days. It is very difficult for people who watch on social media to be able to relate to certain individuals who live in a celebrity world. They have feelings. Some people care about that, some people care less, so it wasn’t the best feeling at that moment. I have great people around me, and I have had a lot of support from my family and friends. Fortunately, I am not alone. There is a lot going on in my life at the moment," the Brit told the media in Mexico.

“There is a lot that goes on in our lives. It is important not to hold things in. I am always open and very transparent with my feelings, whether people like it or not. Coming into this weekend, I feel very positive and I am back to what I love doing. It is about trying to be positive which is not always easy," Hamilton added.

If Hamilton goes on to outscore his Mercedes teammate Valletri Bottas in Mexico on Sunday, he'll be just one world championship win away from Michael Schumacher's all-time record of seven titles.

Considering Mercedes' performances in Mexico in recent years, it looks highly unlikely that Hamilton will secure his fifth title on Sunday. He may have to wait until next weekend's US Grand Prix before he becomes world champion for the fifth time in as many as six years.

"I don’t remember any point this season where I have finished 14 points ahead of Valtteri,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where it is done, as long as you get it done. I am super-focused on the remaining four races. I am fully aware that there are plenty of points available so I have to deliver," Hamilton said.