Lewis Hamilton

Karting and the junior categories

Lewis Hamilton grew up in Stevenage and began racing in karting before progressing through the junior single-seater categories. His association with McLaren began while he was young, providing a route toward Formula One. Success in Formula 3 and the 2006 GP2 championship established that his development rested on competitive results across successive levels, not simply on early industry support.

A remarkable Formula One arrival

Hamilton made his Formula One debut with McLaren in 2007 and immediately competed for race wins and the world championship. He finished the season narrowly behind Kimi Räikkönen. In 2008, he won his first drivers’ title in a final-race finish in Brazil, securing the points he needed on the last lap. Those seasons established him as a leading driver almost immediately.

The Mercedes era

Hamilton moved to Mercedes for the 2013 season. The team became dominant after the 2014 regulation change, and his rivalry with teammate Nico Rosberg shaped several championship campaigns. Later title contests with Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari added another competitive context. Across these years, Hamilton combined qualifying speed, race management and the ability to sustain results across long championship seasons.

A seventh title and a new chapter

Hamilton won his seventh drivers’ championship in 2020, matching Michael Schumacher’s career total at that point. He passed 100 Grand Prix victories in 2021 and added another British Grand Prix win in 2024. His move to Ferrari in 2025 opened a new phase after more than a decade with Mercedes. These milestones are historical achievements rather than a claim about his current season position.

Representation and life beyond the car

As Formula One’s first Black driver, Hamilton’s career also brought sustained attention to access and representation within motorsport. The Hamilton Commission and Mission 44 are associated with his efforts in those areas. His sporting record and public work should be considered separately but together explain his wider visibility: one comes from results on track, the other from attempts to change who can enter the industry.

Selected works & milestones