Driver Profile: Lewis Hamilton
Driver Profile: Lewis Hamilton
Sir Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, England. He is the most successful driver in history, having won more races than anybody else and finishing as World Champion seven times, equalling Michael Schumacher’s record.
Early Career
He was the youngest driver to win the British Cadet Karting Championship at the age of 10. During this period, Lewis approached Ron Dennis, the then-McLaren team chief, at the Autosport awards and said, “Hello there. Hello, my name is Lewis Hamilton. I won the British Championship, and I hope to race your cars one day.” After winning his second Super One series and British title in 1998, Ron Dennis called Lewis Hamilton offering him a place in the McLaren driver development program. Lewis would rip through the junior divisions, winning the GP2 and F3 series.
Formula 1 Career: 2007-2012
Hamilton began his Formula One career in 2007 with McLaren, where he was paired with two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton was outstanding after defeating the Spaniard in his debut season. Then, after a very dramatic 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, he would win his first World Championship the following year.
McLaren had struggled to provide Hamilton with a car capable of bringing him his second championship, but that would soon change.
Formula 1 Career 2013 – Present day
Hamilton joined the Mercedes team in 2013, which was a surprising choice at the time. Hamilton filled the seat vacated by seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, far from being the dominant force they are now. Nico Rosberg was tasked with carrying the Silver Arrows up the rankings alongside him.
Mercedes’ supremacy in Formula One began in 2014 with the start of the turbo-hybrid era resulting in Hamilton being a seven-time champion. Mercedes holds a record of seven Drivers’ titles and eight Constructors’ titles.
Hamilton has numerous Formula One records, including the most career points, Grand Prix victories, pole positions, and points in a single season.
His sports achievements earned him a place in England’s New Year Honours list in 2021, and he was knighted in December the same year to become Sir Lewis Hamilton.
He’s utilized his platform to show support for various causes, including the Black Lives Matter movement, which he backed heavily throughout the 2020 and 2021 seasons to combat racism. He also established Mission 44 to help young people from underrepresented groups to succeed in the UK and The Hamilton Commission to make Formula One a more diverse sport.
Away from Formula One, Hamilton is recognized for his love of fashion, co-founding his own line with Tommy Hilfiger. He also enjoys music and has previously stated that he is preparing for his first action film. As a vegan, Hamilton is outspoken about environmental issues.
