Lewis Hamilton

Lore & Background

Born and raised in Stevenage, Hamilton began his career in karting at age six, winning several national titles and attracting the attention of Ron Dennis, who signed him to the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme in 1998. After winning the Karting World Cup and European Championship in 2000, Hamilton progressed to junior formulae, where his successes included winning the Formula 3 Euro Series and the GP2 Series. He subsequently signed for McLaren in , becoming the first black driver to compete in Formula One at the .

In his rookie season, Hamilton won four Grands Prix and set several records as he finished runner-up to Kimi Räikkönen by one point and tied with his teammate Fernando Alonso. Hamilton won his maiden title in , making a title-deciding overtake on the last lap of the last race of the season to become the then-youngest World Drivers' Champion. The Red Bull–Renault combination prevailed throughout his remaining four seasons at McLaren, with Hamilton achieving multiple race wins in each, including his involvement in a four-way title battle in .

Hamilton signed for Mercedes in to partner his old karting teammate Nico Rosberg, ending his 15-year association with McLaren. Following his maiden victory with the team at the Hungarian Grand Prix, new engine regulations the following season saw Mercedes emerge as the dominant force in Formula One. Over the next three seasons, Hamilton and Rosberg won 51 of 59 Grands Prix amidst their fierce rivalry, with Hamilton winning the former titles in and , and Rosberg winning the latter.

After Rosberg's retirement, Hamilton twice overturned mid-season point deficits to Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari to claim his fourth and fifth titles in and . Hamilton won his sixth title in , before breaking several records across his campaign—including the all-time win record at the —to claim his record-equalling seventh. Hamilton became the first driver to surpass 100 race wins and pole positions in , ending runner-up to Max Verstappen amidst a disputed finish.

Following winless campaigns in and , he took his record ninth victory in , his final season with Mercedes. Hamilton signed for Ferrari in , where he won his first Grand Prix in and is contracted to remain until at least the end of 2027.

Reader's Guide

Hamilton has been credited with furthering Formula One's global following by appealing to a broader audience outside the sport, in part due to his high-profile lifestyle, amongst his environmental and social activism. He has also become a prominent advocate in support of racial justice and increased diversity in motorsport. Hamilton was listed in the 2020 issue of Time as one of the 100 most influential people globally, was named the most influential black Briton in the Powerlist 2021, and was knighted by Elizabeth II in the 2021 New Year Honours.

Did You Know?

• Hamilton was born on 7 January 1985 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
• His father, Anthony Hamilton, is of Afro-Grenadian descent, while his mother, Carmen Larbalestier, is White British from Birmingham, making him mixed-race.
• Hamilton began karting in 1993 and became the youngest driver to win the British cadet karting championship at age ten.
• He was educated at The John Henry Newman School, a voluntary aided Catholic secondary school in Stevenage.
• Hamilton's father bought him a go-kart for Christmas when he was six.