Lewis Hamilton is one of the most successful Formula One Prix racing drivers of all time. He owns the F1 record for career race victories and is tied with Michael Schumacher for the most drivers’ championships (seven). In 2008 he became the first Black driver to win the F1 world drivers’ championship. Hamilton holds the record for F1 victories, podiums and pole positions, winning titles in 2007 with McLaren and 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 with Mercedes.
Born in Stevenage, Hamilton – who is of Grenadian descent started on the path towards racing superstardom rather humbly by specialising in radio-controlled cars, a hobby that saw him finish second in a national championship against adults, and spurred on his progression to karting-aged six.
Early Life and Career
He won the British Kart Championship when he was 10. Three years later Hamilton was signed to the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support Programme, where he was given the support and backing he needed to train and develop his skills. From 1998 to 2000 he won European and world karting championships, and at age 15 he became the youngest-ever driver to be ranked number one in the sport.
He was quite successful in kart racing, securing a Formula One contract at a very young age after being entered into the McLaren development program in a deal that held clauses for a future F1 drive with the team – at 13, it made him the youngest driver to hold a de facto F1 deal.
Hamilton progressed to auto racing, and in 2003 he captured the British Formula Renault race series championship by winning 10 of the 15 races he entered. The following year he competed in the Formula Three Euroseries championship. He won the championship in 2005, and in 2006 he joined a team competing in GP2, a race series designed to help drivers prepare for F1 and won the GP2 title in his one season in the series.
F1 Championship with McLaren
His efforts were enough to convince McLaren to make good on its promise and break with tradition by promoting a young rookie into a race seat alongside Fernando Alonso for the 2007 season. He was the youngest driver to win the Formula One World Championship at the age of 23 years and 300 days, a record that has since then been broken by rival Sebastian Vettel.
In the following seasons with McLaren, Hamilton remained one of the top drivers in Formula 1, securing two race victories in 2009, three in both 2010 and 2011, and four in 2012. In September 2012, Hamilton decided to leave McLaren and join the Mercedes-Benz F1 team. Although he faced challenges in his first season with Mercedes, winning only one race in 2013, Hamilton still accumulated enough points to finish in the top five of the drivers’ championship standings for the seventh consecutive season.
Domination with Mercedes
A high-profile move to Mercedes in 2013 placed Hamilton in a prime position starting in 2014, as the German manufacturer introduced the fastest and most reliable version of the championship’s revolutionary new V6 turbo hybrid engine.
With Hamilton behind the wheel of what would become the dominant package in Formula 1 for much of the next decade, he secured six championships over the seven seasons from 2014 to 2020. Hamilton tied Schumacher’s mark with his seventh championship in 2020, and he also broke Schumacher’s record for most career F1 race victories (91).
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2021 Championship Controversy
In 2021, Hamilton engaged in a fierce battle with Max Verstappen for the drivers’ championship, a contest that remained undecided until the final grand prix of the season. A contentious decision by race officials placed Hamilton at a disadvantage, allowing Verstappen to win both the race and the championship. Although denied a record-breaking eighth driver’s title, Hamilton later revealed that the outcome led him to contemplate retirement.
Work against Racism
In recent years, Hamilton has used his platform to advocate for environmental causes and actively participate in campaigns against racism. He has also initiated efforts to promote diversity in motorsport and made a significant impact in the fashion industry.
Knighted in the Queen’s 2021 New Year Honours, Sir Lewis Hamilton has won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award twice (in 2014 and 2020) and was named the Laureus Sportsman of the Year in 2020.
Championship Records
- 2008 – Wins – 5, Podiums – 10, Points – 98
- 2014 – Wins – 11, Podiums – 10, Points – 384
- 2015 – Wins – 10, Podiums – 17, Points – 381
- 2017 – Wins – 9, Podiums – 12, Points – 363
- 2018 – Wins – 11, Podiums – 17, Points – 408
- 2019 – Wins – 11, Podiums – 17, Points – 413
- 2020 – Wins – 11, Podiums – 14, Points – 347
Driving Style
Hamilton is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded drivers on the grid, excelling in numerous aspects of racing. Known for his aggressive driving style, he possesses a natural talent for pushing the car to its limits. Hamilton has also earned praise for his adaptability to changes in car setup and varying track conditions. Throughout his career, his skill in maintaining momentum through corners, even with an unstable car, has often allowed him to use less fuel than his teammates. Hamilton’s consistency has been another hallmark of his success.
Personal Life
In 2017, Hamilton revealed to the BBC that he had adopted a vegan lifestyle, stating that he was motivated by concerns about the cruelty inflicted on the world by human actions and his desire to live a healthier life. His commitment to veganism earned him the title of PETA’s Person of the Year in 2018. That same year, Hamilton mentioned in an interview that he had quit drinking “a while ago.” His racing number has always been 44, a choice inspired by his father’s red Vauxhall Cavalier, which had the license plate “F44” when Hamilton began racing.