F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Recounts Chilling Moment He Thought ‘It Was All Over’

During the latest episode of “Hot Ones,” Seven-time Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, shared an alarming recount of his near-death experience while surfing at Pipeline in Hawaii, a location notorious for its formidable waves. The champion diverged from racing tracks to tackle 20-foot waves, describing a moment when he believed “it was all over.”

The harrowing incident underscores the risks extreme sports pose even to seasoned athletes like Hamilton. Surfing with professional Kelly Slater—who warned him of the dangerous conditions—highlights the level of challenge and thrill-seeking inherent in Hamilton’s off-track activities.

Hamilton recounted being advised against entering the water due to the overwhelming surfing conditions at Pipeline. Ignoring the risks, he plunged into the waters, only to find himself struggling in the “kill zone,” an area so fraught with danger that one wrong move could be catastrophic. He explained:

“Biggest wipeout I had I was with Kelly Slater, on Pipeline. It was like 20ft waves and Kelly was like ‘there’s no way you’re coming out there. You’re crazy.’

“I turn around and see this set of four waves coming and that for me was like: ‘it’s over, it’s all over.’ As I threw my board, I dove down and grabbed the reef and I could hear this wave crash behind me. My board got ripped and snapped in half.

“I came back up, obviously gasping for air and the next one was coming so back down, grabbed the reef again as another wave comes over. So I did that three times. I got up, I’d nearly run out of air. I’d nearly drowned, but managed to swim back from there.”

Speaking about his passion for surfing during an interview with DAZN in 2021, Hamilton commented (translated by Google):

“It’s my favorite sport. There are no phones, you merge with nature and feel more connected than ever to the world. That’s the best feeling ever.

“I’m crazy because I always try to get on the big waves. I try to go under the wave, go up, go from one side to the other, but I’m not able to, obviously. Normally I have to swim a lot.

“The last time I went, I paddled out to a wave the size of this building. It was incredible. I had never experienced anything so terrifying. But I didn’t catch the wave, I stayed on the side watching. That day, my board broke in two, I lost it… It was something intense.”