Who is Lewis Hamilton?
Sir Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver who competes in Formula One for Ferrari. He has won a joint-record seven world titles and holds the records for most race wins, pole positions and podiums.
Early life and background
Hamilton was born in Stevenage in 1985. His father worked several jobs to fund his karting from age six. At ten he met McLaren boss Ron Dennis and told him he wanted to race for his team; at 13 he joined McLaren’s young driver programme.
Career highlights
- Junior success: won karting titles, the Formula 3 Euro Series and GP2.
- McLaren (2007): became the first Black driver in F1 and finished second by one point as a rookie.
- First title (2008): won the championship with a last-lap pass in the final race.
- Mercedes (2013–2024): won six more titles and dominated the hybrid era.
- Ferrari (2025): made a historic move to the Italian team.
Major achievements
His seven championships equal Michael Schumacher’s record, and his 100-plus wins and poles are all-time records.
Expertise
Hamilton is known for consistency, racecraft, tyre management and speed in wet conditions.
Leadership and impact
He uses his platform to promote diversity in motorsport, founding the Hamilton Commission and Mission 44 to support young people from under-represented backgrounds.
Recognition
He was knighted in 2021.
Timeline: key moments
- 1985Born in Stevenage
- 1998Joins McLaren young driver programme
- 2006Wins GP2
- 2007F1 debut with McLaren
- 2008First world title
- 2013Joins Mercedes
- 2014Second world title
- 2020Seventh title equals Schumacher
- 2021Knighted
- 2025Joins Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton broke barriers and records to become one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history.
