Photographers from protothema.gr captured Hamilton on Wednesday night (August 13) at the popular Barbarossa restaurant in the picturesque harbor of Naoussa, enjoying seafood and Cycladic specialties with a lively, large group of friends.

Wearing a hat and in notably good spirits, the British champion seemed to be taking full advantage of Greek hospitality to recharge before returning to the racetrack.

His visit to the Cyclades comes just days after a narrow loss in Q2 at Hungary—missing the top ten by only 15 thousandths of a second—which led to his rare public self-critique: “I’m just useless,” he admitted at the time, causing a stir in the Formula 1 community.

While he usually preferred Mykonos in past summers, this year Hamilton opted for Paros, enjoying the island’s peaceful pace as a break from the hectic racing schedule. By all accounts, the seven-time world champion is expected to return to the track refreshed and determined.