Lewis Hamilton

NAME Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton. He is commonly known as Lewis Hamilton, and since December 2020 has held the title "Sir Lewis," following his appointment as a Knight Bachelor. 

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Lewis Hamilton is an elite British racing driver who has won a joint-record seven Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles (tied with Michael Schumacher). He holds the outright records for the most wins, pole positions, and podium finishes in Formula One history. He is also famous for breaking racial barriers as the first and only Black driver to race in the series, using his global platform to advocate for environmentalism, human rights, and increased diversity in motorsport

BIRTH Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton was born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. (1)

FAMILY BACKGROUND Hamilton is of mixed-race heritage: his father, Anthony Hamilton, is of Afro-Grenadian descent, and his mother, Carmen Larbalestier, is white British. His parents separated when Lewis was approximately two years old, in 1987.

Lewis lived primarily with his mother and his two older half-sisters, Nicola and Samantha Lockhart (children of his mother's relationship with Raymond Lockhart), until around the age of twelve, when he moved in with his father and his stepmother, Linda Hamilton, to focus on his racing career. (1)

His half-brother, Nicolas Hamilton, born March 28, 1992 — the son of Anthony and Linda Hamilton — is himself a racing driver who competes despite having cerebral palsy. (2) 

Anthony Hamilton worked multiple jobs, including as an IT manager, to fund Lewis's karting career. (1)

Lewis Hamilton and his father after the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix by diogo dubiella 

CHILDHOOD Hamilton grew up on a council estate in Stevenage. He first showed an aptitude for motorsport through radio-controlled cars, reaching the final of a national radio-controlled car championship against adults. (3) 

His father bought him his first go-kart at the age of eight, and Lewis took to karting with immediate success. (2) 

At the age of ten, he approached McLaren team principal Ron Dennis at an awards ceremony and told him: "I want to race for you one day." Dennis wrote in his notebook: "Phone me in nine years."  Just three years later, in 1998, when Hamilton was thirteen, Dennis signed him to the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz young driver support programme — one of the earliest and most consequential talent-spotting moves in Formula One history. (4)

EDUCATION Hamilton attended Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School in Stevenage, where he was in the same school year as future England and Manchester United footballer Ashley Young. (5) 

He subsequently studied at the Cambridge College of Arts and Sciences (CATS College), a private sixth-form college in Cambridge, which he has described as a "pleasurable experience" that embraced his passion for racing.  His education was necessarily truncated by the escalating demands of his professional racing career, and he did not pursue a university degree. (6)

CAREER RECORD 1993: Hamilton began competitive karting at the age of eight and quickly dominated local and national cadet championships. 

1998: Signed to the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz young driver support programme, beginning a structured path through junior single-seater formulae

2001-2006: He graduated to single-seat car racing, winning the Formula Renault UK title in 2003, the Formula 3 Euro Series championship in 2005, and the GP2 Series crown in 2006, clearing his path to the pinnacle of motorsport.

2007: Hamilton made his sensational Formula One debut with McLaren alongside defending champion Fernando Alonso. He finished on the podium in his first nine races, won four Grands Prix, and missed out on winning the world title by just a single point to Kimi Räikkönen.

2008: He won his maiden Formula One World Championship in dramatic fashion, overtaking Timo Glock on the final corner of the final lap at the Brazilian Grand Prix to clinch the title by one point, becoming the youngest world champion at the time. 

2013: In a gamble that shocked the racing world, Hamilton left McLaren to join the Mercedes AMG Petronas team, replacing a retiring Michael Schumacher. 

2014-2020: He entered an era of unprecedented dominance, securing six world championships in seven years (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020), transforming Mercedes into an unstoppable force.

2021: He narrowly missed a record-breaking eighth world title after a highly controversial safety car restart at the final race in Abu Dhabi, losing the championship on the final lap to Max Verstappen. (7)

2025: After a twelve-year tenure with Mercedes, Hamilton activated a release clause to join Ferrari on a multi-year contract starting in the 2025 season. 

APPEARANCE Hamilton is approximately 5 feet 9 inches (174 cm) tall, with a lean, athletic build maintained through intensive training and a plant-based diet. (7) 

He has dark brown eyes and throughout his career has worn his hair in a variety of styles, from close-cropped to longer dreadlocks. 

Lewis Hamilton 2025 By Number 10 - https://www.flickr.com

FASHION Hamilton is widely regarded as one of the most fashion-conscious sportsmen in the world, and his presence at Paris Fashion Week and other major industry events is a fixture of the international style calendar. (8) 

He collaborated extensively with Tommy Hilfiger on the TOMMYXLEWIS streetwear collections, which emphasised sustainability, with Hamilton insisting that a growing proportion of the materials used be eco-friendly and recyclable. He has also served as a brand ambassador for Dior. (20) He launched his own clothing line under the +44 brand. (9) 

Hamilton's aesthetic is bold and gender-fluid, frequently incorporating oversized silhouettes, layering, and statement accessories that challenge conventional notions of sportsman style. (10)

CHARACTER Hamilton is described by those who know him as intensely driven and competitive, yet also introspective and spiritually minded. (11) 

He has spoken openly about the psychological pressures of elite motorsport, about overcoming racial prejudice within the sport, and about the depression and self-doubt he experienced after his near-miss championship defeat in 2021. (12) 

Hamilton is noted for his advocacy of social causes, particularly racial equality and environmental sustainability, and took the knee on the F1 grid throughout the 2020 season in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. (13) 

He is known for his loyalty to close friends and his generosity towards his family, particularly his father Anthony, whom he has credited as the architect of his success. (1)

SPEAKING VOICE  Hamilton speaks with an accent that reflects his Hertfordshire upbringing, softened and broadened over the decades by an international lifestyle. His voice is measured and considered in interviews, with a tendency towards careful, reflective phrasing when discussing personal or political subjects. Hamilton has a reputation for directness and is not known to shy away from controversy when he feels strongly about an issue. (12)

SENSE OF HUMOUR Hamilton has demonstrated a playful sense of humour on social media and in the paddock. He has been photographed and filmed in light-hearted moments with fellow drivers and team members. On one notable occasion he participated in a pizza-eating contest with his then-Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, demonstrating that competitive instincts extend beyond the racetrack.  His social media presence — particularly his Instagram and TikTok accounts — reveals a man who does not take himself entirely seriously. (11)

RELATIONSHIPS Hamilton's most high-profile romantic relationship was with singer and Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger, with whom he had an on-and-off relationship for approximately seven years before their final separation in 2015/2016. 

As a teenager, he briefly dated former Big Brother contestant Danielle Lloyd. He has also been linked in the press to singers Rita Ora and Rihanna, though he has characterised both relationships as friendships. (14) 

Lewis Hamilton was first romantically linked with Kim Kardashian in early February 2026 after being spotted together at a hotel in Paris and at a New Year's Eve gathering at Kate Hudson's home. They went more public at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, 2026.

MONEY AND FAME Hamilton is one of the wealthiest sportsmen in British history, with an estimated net worth exceeding £350 million. He has consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid athletes on the Forbes annual lists, earning tens of millions annually from his team contracts and an endorsement portfolio that includes Mercedes-Benz, Tommy Hilfiger, Sony, Monster Energy, and Dior. (8) 

He is a supporter of numerous charitable causes, particularly those focused on children and on environmental sustainability, and in 2020 established the Hamilton Commission, a body dedicated to improving the representation of Black people in motorsport. (7)

FOOD AND DRINK Hamilton adopted a plant-based (vegan) diet around 2017, motivated by a combination of environmental concerns, compassion for animals, and a desire to optimise his physical performance. (15) 

He is not known as a drinker and his dietary choices are deeply connected to his environmental philosophy. His favourite restaurant has been reported to be Shanghai Blues in London. (11)

MUSIC AND ARTS Music is one of Hamilton's most deeply held passions outside motorsport. He began teaching himself guitar at the age of thirteen and subsequently also learned piano. He sings and has written over 80 original songs in a variety of genres. (11) 

Hamilton has a deep love of hip-hop and R&B and counts numerous musicians among his personal friends. 

In 2026, after selling his collection of supercars, Hamilton shifted focus toward the fine art market as an investment vehicle. (8)

LITERATURE Hamilton published his autobiography, Lewis Hamilton: My Story, in 2007, which discusses his childhood, his karting career, and his route to Formula One. 

He regularly books studio time on Sunday evenings after race weekends as a form of recovery and creative release. (11) 

NATURE Environmental concern is central to Hamilton's personal philosophy. He has supported the World Wildlife Fund UK's #ActForTheAmazon campaign, raising awareness of deliberate deforestation. (6) 

His veganism is explicitly linked to his environmental beliefs; he has spoken of the destructive impact of the meat and dairy industries on the planet. (15) 

Hamilton's Colorado ranch provides him with a retreat in natural surroundings that he describes as his true home. (16)

PETS Hamilton was the devoted owner of a British Bulldog named Roscoe, who has appeared frequently on his social media platforms and in interviews, and who accompanied him to races and public engagements for many years. Roscoe died in 2023. Hamilton's grief at Roscoe's death was publicly expressed and widely reported. (17)

MOTOR RACING CAREER Lewis Hamilton’s journey to Formula One greatness began in 1993 when, at the age of eight, he climbed into a go-kart and promptly discovered he was very good at making small vehicles travel alarmingly quickly. By his early teens he was dominating British and European karting championships with the sort of consistency that causes rival parents to begin questioning the fairness of the universe.

In 1998, still years away from learning to drive legally on public roads, Hamilton was signed to McLaren and Mercedes-Benz’s young driver programme. It was one of those rare moments when a giant corporation looked at a child and correctly concluded, “Yes, that one.” The deal provided a carefully mapped route through motor racing’s notoriously expensive junior ranks.

Between 2000 and 2006, Hamilton progressed through Formula Renault, Formula Three Euroseries and GP2, collecting championships with impressive regularity. He won the Formula Three Euroseries title in 2005 and followed it with the GP2 championship in 2006. By this point, the question was no longer whether he would reach Formula One, but whether anyone would be able to stop him once he got there.

The answer arrived in 2007. Making his Formula One debut for McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton immediately began behaving as though he had accidentally skipped the apprenticeship phase. He finished on the podium in nine consecutive races and came within a single point of winning the World Championship in his rookie season. The title eventually went to Kimi Räikkönen, but only after one of the most dramatic finales the sport had seen. For a newcomer to come so close was almost unheard of.

Hamilton needed only one more season to finish the job. In 2008 he became Formula One World Champion at the age of 23, making him the youngest champion in history at the time. The title was secured on the final lap of the final race in Brazil, after a desperate overtake on Timo Glock. Millions of viewers experienced simultaneous cardiac distress. The record for youngest champion would later be taken by Sebastian Vettel, but Hamilton’s finish remains one of Formula One’s great last-minute escapes.

Hamilton (centre) celebrates his maiden World Drivers' Championship By diogo dubiella 

The following year brought an MBE in the New Year Honours and a reminder that motorsport is occasionally less romantic than advertised. McLaren produced an uncompetitive car in 2009 and Hamilton finished fifth in the standings, a result most drivers would have celebrated and Hamilton regarded as a disappointment.

From 2010 to 2012 he remained with McLaren, winning races but falling short of another title. Then came the decision that would reshape both his career and Formula One itself. In 2013 Hamilton left McLaren for Mercedes. At the time, many observers considered it a gamble. Looking back, it resembles the sort of gamble where someone wagers a pound on the sun rising tomorrow.

The arrival of Formula One’s hybrid era in 2014 transformed Mercedes into the dominant force in the sport, and Hamilton into its chief beneficiary. He won the World Championship in 2014 and again in 2015, engaging in a fierce rivalry with teammate Nico Rosberg. The pair spent much of their time racing each other while the rest of the field watched from a respectful distance.

In 2016 Rosberg narrowly defeated Hamilton for the title and then promptly retired, apparently deciding there was no sensible way to improve on the experience. Hamilton responded in the manner of champions throughout history: by becoming even more difficult to beat. He reclaimed the championship in 2017, won again in 2018 and 2019, and steadily rewrote Formula One’s record books. During the 2017 season he surpassed Michael Schumacher’s mark for pole positions, a record once considered untouchable.

The 2020 season elevated him into truly rarefied company. Hamilton won his seventh World Championship, equalling Schumacher’s long-standing record, and surpassed Schumacher’s total of 91 Grand Prix victories. In a sport obsessed with numbers, he had suddenly accumulated more of the important ones than anyone else.

Recognition followed. Hamilton was named in the Queen’s New Year Honours and, in December 2021, was formally knighted at Windsor Castle by the Prince of Wales, later King Charles III. He became only the fourth Formula One driver to receive the honour, joining a remarkably exclusive club whose membership could comfortably fit around a small dining table.

The 2021 championship, however, ended in controversy. Hamilton appeared destined for an unprecedented eighth title until a disputed late-race safety car procedure at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix allowed Max Verstappen to overtake him on the final lap. The fallout was immense. Formula One’s governing body later acknowledged errors in the race management process and race director Michael Masi departed his role. Hamilton withdrew briefly from public life before returning the following season.

He remained with Mercedes through 2024, but by then another chapter was taking shape. In 2025 Hamilton joined Ferrari, a move that had been rumoured for years and finally arrived with the force of a royal wedding. Expectations were immense. Reality proved less accommodating. Ferrari struggled, Hamilton failed to score a single podium finish, and he later described the campaign as a nightmare. It was the first season of his Formula One career in which he never reached the top three.

Yet great athletes possess an almost supernatural ability to remain optimistic in circumstances that would have most people researching alternative careers. Entering 2026, Hamilton spoke enthusiastically about Ferrari’s new SF-26, a car he said contained some of his own “DNA” in its design. On June 14, 2026, he claimed his first win for Ferrari at the Catalunya Grand Prix.

Whether that victory arrives or not, Hamilton’s place in motor racing history is secure. From a karting prodigy in suburban Hertfordshire to a seven-time world champion, record breaker, knight of the realm and global sporting icon, his career has been a reminder that occasionally the child everyone says is special turns out to be exactly that.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Away from the racetrack, Hamilton's interests are broad and physically active. He surfs, skis (with a particular fondness for Aspen, Colorado), skydives, runs, and plays golf. (14) 

He and his training partners follow a shared fitness philosophy: "We sky-dive together, we surf together, we run together, we go to the gym." (18) 

Hamilton is an enthusiastic collector of rare automobiles; at his peak he owned thirteen cars divided between Monaco and Los Angeles, though he sold his verified supercar collection in 2026 for a reported sum in excess of £13 million. (8) 

SCIENCE AND MATHS Hamilton has shown a practical and applied interest in science and technology, particularly as it relates to the engineering of Formula One cars, aerodynamics, and sustainable materials in fashion.  His contribution to the design of Ferrari's SF-26 car — which he has described as carrying his "DNA" — suggests a more hands-on engagement with automotive engineering than is typical for a driver. (19)

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Hamilton was raised in a Catholic household and has retained a personal faith throughout his adult life. He wears a cross at all times, including during races. (11)

Hamilton's broader philosophy is one of social responsibility and environmental stewardship; he has said that his platform as a world-famous athlete carries an obligation to use that visibility for positive change. He has spoken of being inspired by Nelson Mandela and of believing that sport has a unique power to transcend social division. (20)

POLITICS Hamilton is an outspoken advocate for racial equality, having publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement during the 2020 Formula One season, when he took the knee on the grid before races and wore anti-racism slogans. (2) 

He established the Hamilton Commission in 2020 to research and address the underrepresentation of Black people in British motorsport. 

Hamilton has been a consistent voice on climate change and environmental policy and has used his public platform to call for corporate accountability on deforestation and carbon emissions. (13) 

SCANDAL In 2017, the Paradise Papers leak revealed that Hamilton had registered a private jet through a company in the Isle of Man, a tax haven, enabling him to reclaim £3.3 million (approximately $4.3 million) in VAT on the aircraft. The revelations provoked public criticism in the United Kingdom and were cited as a reason why his knighthood was delayed. Motorsport UK chairman David Richards subsequently argued that Hamilton's tax position had been "totally misunderstood" and that he was among the five thousand highest individual taxpayers in the United Kingdom. (13) 

Hamilton had earlier faced questions about his decision to base himself in Monaco, a low-tax jurisdiction, rather than the United Kingdom.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Hamilton maintains an exceptionally high level of physical fitness, as required by the extraordinary demands of Formula One driving, which subjects the body to forces of up to 5G under braking and cornering, requires sustained concentration for up to two hours, and demands fine motor coordination in extreme heat and noise. (12) 

He has spoken openly about the mental health challenges associated with elite sport, including periods of depression and isolation.

HOMES Hamilton maintains a primary residence in the exclusive Fontvieille district of Monaco, valued at approximately $24–40 million. He also owns a mansion in the Royal Borough of Kensington, London, valued at approximately $24–38 million. (21) 

Hamilton considers his ranch in Aspen, Colorado, his true home and the place where he would choose to retire. (16) 

He has also owned a property on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, an apartment in Milan, and formerly owned a penthouse in Tribeca, New York City, which he sold in 2021 for approximately £38 million. (22)

TRAVEL As a Formula One driver competing in approximately 24 Grands Prix per year across five continents, Hamilton is among the most well-travelled individuals on the planet. (23) 

He has spoken of the privilege and the isolation that this lifestyle entails. His principal bases — Monaco, London, and Aspen — reflect the geographic spread of his personal and professional life. He has a deep affection for Colorado and for Japan, and has described Tokyo as one of his favourite cities in the world. (20)

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Hamilton provided the voice of himself in the Pixar animated film Cars 2 (2011). 

He has appeared in numerous Formula One documentaries and television features. 

Hamilton's life and career were substantially covered in the Netflix documentary series Formula 1: Drive to Survive. 

He has appeared on the covers of numerous international magazines, including GQ, Vogue, and Time. He has made celebrity cameo appearances at fashion events, music videos, and award ceremonies globally. 

Hamilton maintains highly active social media accounts on Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter), with a combined following of tens of millions. 

ACHIEVEMENTS Seven Formula One World Drivers' Championships (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) — joint all-time record with Michael Schumacher 

All-time record of 105 Formula One Grand Prix victories 

All-time record of 104 Formula One pole positions 

All-time record of 205 Formula One podium finishes 

Surpassed Michael Schumacher's pole position record of 68 in 2017 

Surpassed Michael Schumacher's Grand Prix victories record of 91 in 2020

First and only Black driver in Formula One history 

MBE, 2009 

Knighted (Knight Bachelor), December 2020; invested at Windsor Castle, December 15, 2021

Only the fourth Formula One driver to be knighted, after Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss, and Sir Jackie Stewart 

Founder of the Hamilton Commission (2020), promoting diversity in motorsport

Sources: (1) FamilyRoot – Lewis Hamilton Family Tree (2) People Magazine – Lewis Hamilton's Siblings (3) One Stop Racing – 49 Facts About Lewis Hamilton (4) Silver Arrows Net – Lewis Hamilton Biography (5) Sportskeeda – Lewis Hamilton and Ashley Young at the same school (6) Study International – Lewis Hamilton at CATS College Cambridge (7) Coco Eco Magazine – Lewis Hamilton: Racing into the Future (8) YouTube – Lewis Hamilton 2026: Hypercars, Fashion & Business Portfolio (9) Evening Standard – Hamilton on Tommy Hilfiger and veganism (10) Coco Eco Magazine – Lewis Hamilton: Racing into the Future (11) HotCars – 10 Things You Never Knew About Lewis Hamilton (12) Motorsport.com – Lewis Hamilton Profile (13) ESPN – Sir Lewis Hamilton Receives Knighthood at Windsor Castle (14) The Express – Hamilton's life away from F1 (15) Reuters – Lewis Hamilton goes vegan (16) Joyce Rey – Inside Lewis Hamilton's Global Real Estate Portfolio (17) One Stop Racing – Lewis Hamilton facts (music, pets, yacht) (18) BBC Sport – Lewis Hamilton: 'I want to have a positive impact' (19) The Guardian – Hamilton closer to first Ferrari victory, June 2026 (20) Biography.com – Lewis Hamilton (21) RealEstate.com.au – Lewis Hamilton's $250m empire (22) The Mirror – Lewis Hamilton sells New York penthouse (23) GPFans – Lewis Hamilton F1 Career Stats