The British Grand Prix is just around the corner, and fans are eagerly waiting for the racing action at Silverstone. However, before Lewis Hamilton races in his home Grand Prix, he is swapping his racing seat for a new role as he looks forward to inspiring kids in a new way.

On July 3rd, Hamilton will put on the hat of a story narrator at BBC’s CBeebies headquarters. The seven-time world champion will read the bedtime story “Small’s Big Dream.”

This inspiring tale is written by award-winning author Manjeet Mann and illustrated by Amanda Quartey. The story encourages children to believe in themselves and the power of their dreams, themes that resonate deeply with Hamilton.

Explaining why he chose that particular book, the Briton said, “The book that I chose, I felt, was really inspiring. It reminded me of my childhood and the big dreams that I had as a kid. This story really emphasizes that no dream is too big or small.”

“And as long as you believe in yourself, continue to work hard, stay focused, give it absolutely everything, and keep chasing that dream, anything is possible.”, he added, as seen in a video on Twitter (now X).

Interestingly, Hamilton himself was featured in the popular children’s book series ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ last year. These books highlight the lives of inspiring individuals, showing young readers that they too can achieve great things. The series is beloved for its engaging stories and beautiful illustrations.

However, for Hamilton, being featured in this series was more meaningful than most of us could imagine.

Lewis Hamilton followed in the footsteps of his racing idol
It’s no secret that Hamilton idolizes Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna, who was also featured in ‘Little People, Big Dreams’. As a child, Hamilton dreamed of following in Senna’s footsteps, and he has succeeded in matching and even surpassing many of Senna’s records.

Thus, being part of the same book series as his hero was another way for Hamilton to feel connected to Senna’s legacy. Senna’s edition, Volume 49, was released in 2020. Hamilton’s edition, Volume 97, came out in 2023, priced at $16.

Hamilton often uses his platform to promote various causes, and inspiring children to dream big is one close to his heart. By reading “Small’s Big Dream,” he hopes to encourage kids to pursue their passions and believe in their potential, just as he did.

Veerendra Singh is a senior Formula 1 journalist at TheSportsRush, with a passion for the sport that goes back to 2008. His extensive coverage and deep understanding of the sport are evident in the more than 900 articles he has written so far on the sport and its famous personalities like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Toto Wolff, Charles Leclerc and more… When he’s not at his work desk, Veerendra likes to spend time with his two feline friends and watch races from the Formula 1 and MotoGP archive. He is always up for a conversation about motorsport so you can hit him up anytime on his social media handles for a quick word.