Lewis Hamilton has opened up about his close bond and frequent conversations with football superstar Neymar Jr., following a viral social media moment between the two athletes. Speaking ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton revealed that they stay in close contact, texting frequently and supporting one another through their respective career milestones.
During his media session in Austria, Hamilton shed light on their relationship and expressed his happiness over the shared mantra. Hamilton emphasized the depth of their relationship, stating, "I got a text from him last week. We message each other often. I'm very thankful for the friendship I have with Neymar.”
The 7-time F1 World Champion praised Neymar for using his massive global reach to spread a powerful, positive message. Hamilton noted, "He's got a huge following. To see that what I said has travelled to Brazil and he heard it and felt compelled to also share the same message with his [followers] just gives me real happiness that it's going even further than it was from what I said.”
Hamilton added that it brought him "real happiness" to see the phrase travel to Brazil and resonate with a completely different sports audience. Talking about their kids, Hamilton also mentioned, "I literally was just talking about his kids the other day because he's got beautiful kids." Both athletes have faced immense scrutiny, long injury layoffs and performance slumps in recent years, the shared mantra made a powerful statement of resilience for both icons.
'Remember who you are': Neymar Jr echoes Lewis Hamilton's mantra following Brazil comeback
Lewis Hamilton and Neymar Jr.'s recent social media exchange captured the attention of fans across Formula 1 and football, highlighting the strong friendship shared by two of the world's biggest sporting icons. After making his long-awaited return for Brazil at the FIFA World Cup 2026 following a 981-day absence from the national team, Neymar posted a series of photos on social media carrying the caption, "Remember who you are."
The phrase immediately resonated with Hamilton's followers, as the seven-time Formula 1 world champion had used the same message on social media after securing his maiden victory with Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. Hamilton responded to Neymar's post with a simple but heartfelt comment: "Always," sparking widespread discussion among fans.
Speaking ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton revealed that the interaction was more than just a public exchange, emphasizing that he and Neymar remain in regular contact. The Ferrari driver disclosed that the pair frequently text each other and that Neymar had messaged him only a week earlier.
Hamilton admitted he was genuinely touched to see Neymar share the same mantra with millions of followers in Brazil, describing it as a positive message that had travelled beyond Formula 1. Hamilton also praised Neymar for using his massive platform to spread encouragement and resilience, adding that seeing the message resonate with another sporting audience brought him "real happiness." The exchange underlined the mutual respect between two athletes who have both overcome injuries, criticism and challenging periods in their careers.
