"Still I Rise" - Why Lewis Hamilton has the phrase tattooed on his back

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion and one of the most successful F1 drivers, has garnered attention not just for his racing prowess but also his extensive tattoo collection. The seven-time world champion has multiple tattoos on his body, ranging from small to large and from colorful to black-and-white. However, there is one tattoo that attracted a lot of attention: the words "Still I Rise" etched across his back.

However, the quote is not the lone tattoo on his back and is paired with a cross. The cross has two angel wings, which further complement the quote. Speaking about the meaning of the artwork on his body, he said,

"On my back I have the cross and angel wings: rise above it, no matter what life throws at you."

Speaking about the words, the Briton once told the BBC,

"Some of the criticism or the negativity that or the down days that you have but Still I Rise. I will overcome it somehow or someway."

Random House published Maya Angelou's third volume of poetry named "And Still I Rise" in 1978, and many believe that the words "Still I Rise" are inherited from the same collection.

Hamilton, throughout his F1 career, has shown grit and determination in not backing down, no matter the situation. When he lost the 2021 F1 championship to Max Verstappen on the very last lap of the season, he collected himself, sharing later that he did not give up despite the heartbreak.

In an Instagram post from 2018, Hamilton had shared a picture of the tattoo and added this caption,

"Still I Rise - What will it take for you to Rise up? How much s#%! are you willing to take? How deep are you willing to dig? The mind is the most powerful tool you have, sharpen it. Knowledge is power! And positivity, talk it into existence!! That’s what I ask and tell myself every single day! It’s worked for me, maybe you can use it too or use your own words. #teamlh #work #nevergiveup #youcan 👊🏾"

In his own words, the tattoo serves as a reminder and a message to himself, not just mere ink on his body.

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Lewis Hamilton's tattoo collection and its importance

In Picture: Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG F! Team (Credit: Getty Images)

As per reports, Lewis Hamilton has over 15 tattoos on his body. From his left hand to the right, from front to back, the Mercedes star has a remarkable tattoo collection. Each tattoo is a testament to different values and holds a unique meaning.

Speaking about the importance of his tattoos and the meaning behind them, the Briton once said,

"I love my ink. They all have a meaning. I'm very strong in my faith, so I wanted to have some religious images. I've got Pieta, a Michelangelo sculpture of Mary holding Jesus after he came off the cross, on my shoulder. A sacred heart on my arm. Musical notes, because I love music.

"The compass on my chest is there because Church is my compass. Family is everything for me, so I have "family" written on the top, across my shoulders. "Faith", obviously." And I have "powerful beyond measure" written on my chest – it's a short bit I took out of a quote from the writer Marianne Williamson."

Besides the above-mentioned ones, Hamilton has a small-sized rose tattoo on his left hand. Reports say that the seven-time world champion got the tattoo done to cover a scar he endured during his go-kart days. Along with the rose, he also has a Capricorn, the constellation under which he was born.