Former driver criticizes broadcasting Lewis Hamilton and his father's chat at the F1 British GP: "Families should be left to have a moment in private"

Former F1 driver and pundit Karun Chandok has condemned broadcasters for recording the conversation between Lewis Hamilton and his father Anthony following the British Grand Prix. Hamilton was seen sharing an emotional moment with his father following his victory at Silverstone.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton's two-and-a-half-year win drought finally ended at the Silverstone Circuit on Sunday. The 39-year-old driver, who last emerged victorious in the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, was once again on top of the podium, as he celebrated winning his home race, the British Grand Prix.

Hamilton's win on Sunday, his ninth at the Silverstone Circuit, means that the Briton now holds the record for the most number of wins at a single circuit. He previously shared this record with Michael Schumacher.

In what was an obvious emotional moment for Hamilton, the 39-year-old driver was seen embracing his father Anthony Hamilton, as the duo basked in Lewis' glory. When asked about the moment in the post-race interview, the 39-year-old said:

"Oh God, I don’t remember, I think he said 'you really needed, you really wanted that one didn’t you?' and I said 'yes'. That’s just it, yeah.”

However, some netizens were not pleased with the way the broadcasting teams captured the poignant moment. Former F1 driver and Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandok wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account:

"Annoys me that a microphone is right there next to Anthony's head.... Sometimes families should be left to have a moment in private without the world listening in."

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Lewis Hamilton reflects on the difficult journey that was his win drought

Hamilton’s journey to this victory has been fraught with challenges. Reflecting on the difficult period since his last win, Hamilton opened up about the mental and emotional toll it took on him.

"It’s so tough, I think for anyone. I think the important thing is just how you continue to get up, and you’ve got to continue to dig deep even when you feel like you’re at the bottom of the barrel," Hamilton said (via F1.com).

Lewis Hamilton candidly shared that there were days when he doubted himself, unsure if he could ever return to his winning form. The Mercedes legend stated:

"There’s definitely been days between 2021 and here where I didn’t feel like I was good enough, or whether I was going to get back to where I am today. But the important thing is I had great people around me, continuing to support me. My team, every time I turn up and see them putting in the effort, that really encouraged me to do the same thing," he added.

With 110 points to his name, Lewis Hamilton is ranked eighth in the F1 Drivers' standings.