Everything You Wanted to Know About Lewis Hamilton

BIOGRAPHY

Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British Formula 1 driver competing for Ferrari. He is a seven-time World Champion (a record shared with Michael Schumacher) and holds Formula 1 records for most wins (105), pole positions (104), and podium finishes (202).

Hamilton was born and raised in Stevenage. He began karting at the age of six and quickly started winning national competitions. In 1998, he was noticed by Ron Dennis and was included in the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme. By 2000, Hamilton had already won the Karting World Cup and the European Championship, after which he began climbing the single-seater ladder.

In the junior series, he consistently claimed key milestones: the title in the Formula 3 Euro Series, followed by the GP2 championship — and then secured a seat in Formula 1.

In 2007, Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut with McLaren and became the first Black driver in the history of the championship. His rookie season was phenomenal: four wins, a series of records, and a final second place in the championship — just one point behind Kimi Räikkönen, tied on points with teammate Fernando Alonso.

In 2008, Hamilton won his first title — a decisive overtake on the final lap of the final race of the season made him at the time the youngest World Champion in history. In the following years, McLaren regularly won races, but the overall title fight was dominated by the Red Bull–Renault partnership; Hamilton remained among the frontrunners and took part in the famous four-way title battle of 2010.

Mercedes (2013–2024): An Era of Dominance and Records

The move to Mercedes in 2013 became one of the most discussed decisions of his career — Hamilton ended a 15-year relationship with McLaren and reunited with former karting rival Nico Rosberg. With the introduction of the new engine regulations in 2014, Mercedes became the dominant force, and the Hamilton–Rosberg rivalry was nicknamed the Silver War. Hamilton won the titles in 2014 and 2015, Rosberg took the championship in 2016 and immediately retired afterward.

Hamilton then secured four consecutive championships:

• in 2017 and 2018 he twice fought back from mid-season deficits in battles against Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari;
• in 2019 he claimed his sixth title;
• in 2020 he won his seventh, equaling Schumacher’s record and breaking the all-time wins record during the season.

The 2021 season became one of the most dramatic: Hamilton surpassed the mark of 100 wins and 100 pole positions for the first time, but finished the year second after the controversial finale in Abu Dhabi. Two winless seasons followed in 2022 and 2023, and in 2024 he returned to winning ways and claimed a record ninth victory at the British Grand Prix, concluding his era at Mercedes.

Ferrari (since 2025): A New Challenge

In 2025, Hamilton joined Ferrari, calling it a childhood dream. The contract runs at least until the end of 2026. His debut season with the Scuderia proved challenging: there were flashes of success (including his first sprint victory), but overall the campaign was inconsistent. He finished sixth in the championship and reportedly became actively involved in internal team processes, proposing changes and participating in discussions about car development with an eye on the 2026 regulations.

Today, Hamilton remains one of the central figures in motorsport — a driver who not only collected the records of his era but continues to chase the next peak with a new team.

PERSONAL LIFE

Lewis Hamilton was born on 7 January 1985 in Stevenage. His father, Anthony Hamilton, has Afro-Grenadian roots, and his mother, Carmen Larbalestier, is British from Birmingham. His parents separated when Lewis was two years old. Until the age of 12, he lived with his mother and half-sisters Samantha and Nicola, later moving in with his father, stepmother Linda, and half-brother Nicolas, who also became a professional racing driver.

His childhood was not easy. At school, Hamilton faced bullying and racist abuse. At the age of five, he began practicing karate to be able to stand up for himself. He attended the Catholic school The John Henry Newman School and was raised in the Catholic tradition; Hamilton has repeatedly said that faith helps him maintain inner balance.

Besides motorsport, he played football in his youth (he supports Arsenal) and cricket. He admitted that if Formula 1 had not worked out, he would have tried to build a career in one of those sports.

From 2007 to 2015, Hamilton was in a relationship with singer Nicole Scherzinger. Later, he rarely commented publicly on his personal life.

Since 2017, Lewis has followed a vegan lifestyle. He has explained this by his concern for the environment, animals, and his own health. In 2018, PETA named him “Person of the Year” for his active stance in protecting animal rights.

Hamilton has spoken openly about his struggle with depression. According to him, the first symptoms appeared during his teenage years — due to pressure, competition, and school issues. He admitted that even in adulthood he has gone through difficult emotional periods.

Over the years, he has lived in Switzerland and Monaco, and owned property in New York and the United States. He also received honorary citizenship of Brazil in 2022 — a symbolic gesture for a country where Ayrton Senna’s name remains iconic, and where Hamilton is considered a spiritual successor of that era.

Dogs held a special place in his life. His bulldog Roscoe was a true social media star and accompanied Lewis to many championship rounds. In 2025, Hamilton announced his passing — a heavy personal loss for him.

Despite his status as a global superstar, in personal interviews Hamilton often emphasizes a simple idea: everything he has began with his family and the sacrifice of his father, who worked multiple jobs at the same time to fund his son’s karting. And that, he says, is his true motivation.

INTERESTING FACTS

• He became a knight during his career. In 2021, Hamilton was knighted in the UK New Year Honours list.
• He is the first driver in history with 100+ wins and pole positions.
• He did not switch to No. 1 even as champion, staying with No. 44 — the number he used in karting.
• He is one of the most successful athletes off the track.
• He founded his own production company, Dawn Apollo Films.
• He invests in sports beyond motor racing (Denver Broncos, Team X44).
• He is an art collector and admires Andy Warhol.
• He won a race by over a minute in the modern era (2008 British Grand Prix).
• He is the only driver to win at least one race in 15 consecutive seasons.
• In 2020, he was included in the Time 100 list.
• An asteroid was named in his honor: 508440 Lewishamilton.
• He is the most decorated driver in Autosport Awards history (19 awards).
• He holds the record for most wins at a single Grand Prix (9 British Grand Prix victories).
• He is the only driver to win championships across four different regulatory eras.
• He became a cultural phenomenon beyond motorsport.