It was 2019, and Lewis Hamilton gave an unforgettable moment to Harry Shaw, a young terminally ill boy: a truly heartwarming story
There’s a fine line between champions and legends: winning on the track makes you a great driver, but the true legends of motorsport have always shown greatness off the circuits, when the race suit and helmet are set aside.
Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Lewis Hamilton is a legend. With 105 victories and seven world titles, it’s not just his records but also his character and humanity that have left a mark. From his fight for the Black Lives Matter movement to launching Mission44, Hamilton has always shown a deep connection to important causes, shining a light on issues often overlooked.
Harry, Lewis’s young fan
In 2019, little Harry Shaw sent a video message to Lewis Hamilton, thanking the British driver and Mercedes for the gifts they sent to his home and wishing him good luck for the 2019 Spanish Grand Prix. A gesture of gratitude for a little fan tragically diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare malignant tumor primarily affecting the bones or surrounding soft tissues of children and adolescents.
His chances of survival were practically zero, given the advanced stage of his illness.
Hamilton responded to Harry with a heartfelt message: “Harry, you don’t know how much this message means to me, buddy. Thank you so much. You are my inspiration today, Harry. I will try to make you proud. You are such a strong boy, I wish I had your strength. I wanted the world to see how strong you are and ask everyone to send their best wishes and prayers to you during this hard time.
Sending you love, Harry. God bless you. Your friend, Lewis.”
After that message, Sir Lewis Hamilton went on to win in Spain and dedicated the victory to Harry: car number 44 took the lead from Bottas at Turn 1, dominated the rest of the race, and claimed a comfortable victory in Barcelona. But for little Harry, the best was yet to come.
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’s gesture for Harry Shaw
Following the Spanish Grand Prix, a special delivery arrived at Harry’s house: a Mercedes truck brought a full-scale replica of the Mercedes W10 right into his garden, along with the original trophy Hamilton had won in Barcelona. The trophy was held close by the whole family, creating an emotional moment for everyone involved.
Sadly, Harry’s condition worsened shortly after, and on June 1, 2019, his suffering came to an end. His family shared heartbreaking words: ” We’d like to say Harry passed away peacefully and in comfort… and in some ways, he did, at home in his bed, surrounded by his toys and the people he loved. But the truth is, the last weeks of Harry’s life were marked by terrible suffering that no human, especially a five-year-old child, should endure .“
Just 20 days after that victory in Barcelona, Hamilton said goodbye to his young fan: “Harry, thank you for being such a positive light to us all. You were brave, and the world will deeply miss you. Thank you, friend and inspiration. God bless you, and rest in peace, buddy.”
Photo: Lewis Hamilton
