2020 was the year Lewis Hamilton would take his shot to equal Michael Schumacher's seven Formula 1 driver titles. 

Instead, motor racing, like most other sports, has been brought to a screeching halt due to the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus. 

Hamilton featured on Mercedes F1's in-house YouTube channel series called 'Deep Dive'.

The 35-year-old opened up how he is coping during the extended F1 shutdown period of close to seven months. 

The Mercedes driver has shied away from social media during this period, opting to focus on business, strategies and "trying to understand what's going to be the new norm". 

The Briton said it had been a good period for his mind, body and spirit, but he is aware of many people who are struggling during this period. 

"I've been spending time to take time for me, making sure that I appreciate me, acknowledging things that you do well, also acknowledging when you fail, and you don't do it so great, it's OK. And not being so hard on yourself, all these different things", he said.

On the flip side, Hamilton admitted he wakes up feeling under the weather. "I have days when I wake up and feel groggy, and I don't feel motivated to work out, I feel, 'Jeez, where are we going, should I continue racing?', he said. 

One thing for sure is that Hamilton predicts the drivers will be "rusty as hell" when they return to racing later this year, dependent on the sport's body of course. 

Watch the full interview below:

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