Lewis Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lewis Hamilton
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Hamilton at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix
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Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton
7 January 1985 Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England
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| Partner(s) | Nicole Scherzinger (2007–2015) |
| Relatives | Nicolas Hamilton (half-brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  British |
| Car number | 44 |
| Entries | 361 (361 starts) |
| Championships | 7 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) |
| Wins | 105 |
| Podiums | 202 |
| Career points | 4893.5 |
| Pole positions | 104 |
| Fastest laps | 67 |
| First entry | 2007 Australian Grand Prix |
| First win | 2007 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Last win | 2024 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2019 Monaco Grand Prix |
| 2024 position | 7th (223 pts) |
| Previous series | |
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| Championship titles | |
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| Signature | |
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Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton (born 7 January 1985) is a British racing driver. He competes in Formula One for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton has won a record-tying seven Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles. He shares this record with Michael Schumacher. Hamilton also holds records for the most wins (105), pole positions (104), and podium finishes (202).
Born and raised in Stevenage, England, Hamilton started karting at age six. He won many national titles. This caught the eye of Ron Dennis, who signed him to the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme in 1998. After winning the Karting World Cup and European Championship in 2000, Hamilton moved up to junior racing series. He won the Formula 3 Euro Series and the GP2 Series.
He then joined McLaren in 2007. He became the first black driver in Formula One. In his first season, Hamilton won four Grands Prix. He set several records and finished second in the championship by just one point. Hamilton won his first title in 2008. He made a last-lap overtake in the final race to become the youngest World Champion at that time. For the next four years at McLaren, Red Bull and Renault cars were very strong. Hamilton still won multiple races each season.
Hamilton moved to Mercedes in 2013. He joined his old karting teammate Nico Rosberg. This ended his 15-year journey with McLaren. He won his first race with Mercedes at the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix. New engine rules in 2014 made Mercedes the top team in Formula One. Over the next three seasons, Hamilton and Rosberg won 51 out of 59 Grands Prix. They had a strong rivalry known as the Silver War. Hamilton won titles in 2014 and 2015, and Rosberg won in 2016.
After Rosberg retired, Hamilton won his fourth and fifth titles in 2017 and 2018. He overcame point deficits against Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari. Hamilton won his sixth title in 2019. In 2020, he broke several records, including the all-time win record at the Portuguese Grand Prix race. This earned him his record-tying seventh title. In 2021, Hamilton became the first driver to get over 100 race wins and pole positions. He finished second to Max Verstappen after a controversial final race.
Hamilton did not win any races in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, his twelfth and final season with Mercedes, he won his record-breaking ninth British Grand Prix victory. Hamilton joined Ferrari in 2025 and will stay with the team until at least the end of 2026.
Hamilton is known for making Formula One popular with more people. This is partly because of his public life and his work for the environment and social causes. He is also a strong supporter of racial justice and wants more diversity in motorsport. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people globally in 2020. He was also knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours.
Contents
- Lewis Hamilton's Early Life and Education
- Lewis Hamilton's Junior Racing Career
- Lewis Hamilton's Formula One Career
- Lewis Hamilton's Driving Style
- Lewis Hamilton's Public Image
- Other Activities
- Lewis Hamilton's Personal Life
- Awards and Honours
- Images for kids
- See also
Lewis Hamilton's Early Life and Education
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton was born on 7 January 1985 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. His father, Anthony Hamilton, is of Afro-Grenadian background. His mother, Carmen Larbalestier, is White British. This makes Lewis mixed-race. Hamilton's parents separated when he was two. He lived with his mother and older half-sisters until he was twelve. Then, he lived with his father, stepmother, and half-brother Nicolas, who is also a racing driver. Hamilton was raised Catholic.
Hamilton's father bought him a radio-controlled car when he was five. The next year, Hamilton finished second in a national championship against adults. He was the only black child racing at his club and faced racist comments. When Hamilton was six, his father bought him a go-kart for Christmas. He promised to support Lewis's racing if he worked hard at school. To help his son, Hamilton's father left his IT job. He worked up to four jobs at a time, including selling windows and washing dishes. He always went to his son's races. Hamilton's father later started his own IT company. He managed Lewis's career until 2010.
Hamilton went to The John Henry Newman School, a Catholic secondary school in Stevenage. Hamilton said he started karate at age five to defend himself from bullying. He was also suspended from school once when he was wrongly accused of hurting another student. Besides racing, he played football for his school team with England international player, Ashley Young. Hamilton is an Arsenal fan. He said if Formula One hadn't worked out, he would have been a footballer or a cricketer. In 2001, he started studying at Cambridge Arts and Sciences (CATS), a private college.
Lewis Hamilton's Junior Racing Career
Karting Success
Hamilton started karting in 1993. He quickly began winning races and championships. In 1995, at age ten, he became the youngest driver to win the British cadet karting championship. That year, Hamilton met McLaren Formula One team boss Ron Dennis. He asked for an autograph and told Dennis: "Hi. I'm Lewis Hamilton. I won the British Championship and one day I want to be racing your cars." Dennis wrote in Hamilton's book: "Phone me in nine years, we'll sort something out then."
In 1998, Dennis called Hamilton after he won more championships. He offered Hamilton a spot in the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme. This contract included a chance to drive in Formula One later. This made Hamilton the youngest driver to get a contract that led to a Formula One drive.
Hamilton continued to improve in karting. He became European Champion in 2000. His teammate at TeamMBM.com was Nico Rosberg. Rosberg later drove for Williams and Mercedes in Formula One. They would be teammates again at Mercedes from 2013 to 2016. In 2001, Michael Schumacher raced karts again for one event. Hamilton finished seventh, four places behind Schumacher. Schumacher praised the young British driver.
Formula Renault and Formula Three Racing
Hamilton started car racing in 2001 in the British Formula Renault Winter Series. He finished fifth. In 2002, he raced a full season in Formula Renault UK with Manor Motorsport. He finished third overall. He stayed with Manor for another year in Formula Renault UK. He won the championship easily, with 10 wins in 15 races. After winning, Hamilton skipped the last two races to debut in the British Formula 3 Championship.
In 2002, Hamilton said his goal was "not to be the youngest in Formula One" but "to be experienced and then show what I can do." He debuted in the 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series in 2004, finishing fifth. He also won the Bahrain F3 Superprix. Williams almost signed Hamilton, but their engine supplier, BMW, wouldn't pay for him. Hamilton re-signed with McLaren. In 2005, Hamilton joined ASM and dominated the championship. He won 15 of 20 races and got 13 pole positions. He also won the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3.
GP2 Series Victory
Hamilton moved to ART Grand Prix, ASM's sister team, for the 2006 season. Hamilton won the GP2 championship on his first try, beating Nelson Piquet Jr.. He had a strong win at the Nürburgring. At his home race in Silverstone, Hamilton made amazing overtakes. In Istanbul, he recovered from a spin to finish second. Hamilton won the title in an unusual way, getting the final point he needed after another driver lost their fastest lap.
Lewis Hamilton's Formula One Career
McLaren Years (2007–2012)
Hamilton's success in GP2 led to a spot at McLaren-Mercedes. He had tested the McLaren MP4-21 car a lot to get used to Formula One. Hamilton was confirmed as the team's second driver.
Amazing First Seasons (2007–2008)
In his first season in Formula One, Hamilton teamed up with two-time champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren. At the first race, the Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton became the first black driver to race in the series. He finished third in his first race. Hamilton then set several records, including the most consecutive podium finishes from debut (9). He also had the most wins in a debut season (4). Hamilton led the championship early on. But bad luck later in the season, including a retirement in China, meant he lost his lead. He finished second in the championship by just one point to Kimi Räikkönen. Hamilton and Alonso had some difficult moments as teammates. Alonso left McLaren at the end of the season. Hamilton signed a new contract to stay with McLaren until 2012.
In 2008, Hamilton continued his winning ways with new teammate Heikki Kovalainen. He won five races and had 10 podium finishes. Ferrari drivers and BMW's Robert Kubica were his main rivals. At the rainy British Grand Prix race, he won by over a minute. This was seen as one of the best wet-weather drives ever. The championship came down to Hamilton and Ferrari's Felipe Massa. Hamilton won his first title at the final race in Brazil. He passed Timo Glock on the last lap to finish fifth, which was enough to win the championship by one point. He became the youngest World Champion at that time. Hamilton was also the first British driver to win the title since Damon Hill in 1996.
Challenging Final Years at McLaren (2009–2012)
In his last years with McLaren, Hamilton still won races and got on the podium. However, Red Bull teams were very strong during this time. New rules in 2009 made it a tough start for McLaren. Hamilton often qualified outside the top ten. His chances of defending his title were low. Big upgrades to the MP4-24 car improved its performance. From then on, Hamilton moved up to fifth in the standings. He won two races and had three more podium finishes.
Script error: The function "" does not exist. In 2010, Hamilton teamed up with champion Jenson Button. McLaren struggled to match Red Bull and Ferrari's speed. Hamilton was in a four-way title fight with Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, and Mark Webber. He got McLaren's only pole position of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix race and took the championship lead after winning. But bad luck, including crashes and car problems, caused him to lose points and the championship lead. He finished fourth in the standings.
2011 was a difficult year for Hamilton. It was the first time a teammate, Button, scored more points than him. Hamilton finished fifth with three wins. He got the only non-Red Bull pole position of the season in Korea.
In 2012, McLaren was a title contender. Hamilton was in the title fight for the first half of the season. But he had a tough second half with inconsistent results and many car failures. He had five retirements in ten races, three while leading. Hamilton finished fourth in the standings with four wins and seven pole positions. Before the end of the year, Hamilton announced he would join Mercedes for the 2013 season. This surprised many people. He thanked McLaren, ending his 15-year connection with the team.
Mercedes Era (2013–2024)
Teammates with Nico Rosberg (2013–2016)
When Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013, he reunited with his childhood karting teammate, Nico Rosberg. Many people were surprised by this move. Some thought joining Mercedes, a team without recent success, was a risk. In his first season with Mercedes, Hamilton finished fourth. He had five podium finishes and pole positions, but only one win at the Hungarian Grand Prix Grand Prix.
New engine rules for the 2014 season, which required turbo-hybrid engines, started a very successful time for Hamilton. Mercedes won 16 of 19 races that season. Hamilton won a career-best 11 races. He battled Rosberg for the title all season. Hamilton had some bad luck mid-season, including car problems and a crash with Rosberg. This left him 29 points behind Rosberg. But he then won five races in a row. Hamilton won his second World Championship at the final race in Abu Dhabi. He said it was "the greatest day of [his] life."
Hamilton chose to keep his old karting number 44. He beat Rosberg for the title again in 2015. He won 10 races and had a record-tying 17 podium finishes. He also got 11 pole positions in the first 12 races. He led the championship all season and won his first back-to-back titles. His rivalry with Rosberg grew stronger. Hamilton won the title with three races left. Hamilton extended his contract with Mercedes for three more years.
In 2016, Hamilton finished second to Rosberg by five points after another season-long battle. He had a tough start with bad race starts and car failures. Mercedes let them race freely, which led to some crashes, like in Spain and Austria. Hamilton won six of seven races in the middle of the season. He took the championship lead for the first time in Hungary. After a crucial engine failure in Malaysia, Hamilton won three more races. He entered the final race 12 points behind Rosberg. In Abu Dhabi, Hamilton tried to slow Rosberg down to help other drivers pass him, but it didn't work. Rosberg won the title and then surprisingly retired. Hamilton finished second but set a record for most wins in a season without being champion (10 wins). He also set a record for most career points.
Four Titles in a Row (2017–2020)
After Rosberg retired, Valtteri Bottas became Hamilton's teammate in 2017. Ferrari and Vettel were strong rivals. Vettel led the standings for the first half of the season. After the summer break, Hamilton dominated. He won five of six races, including the Italian Grand Prix Grand Prix. There, he broke the record for most all-time pole positions. He took the championship lead from Vettel. Hamilton won his fourth World Drivers' title in Mexico with two races left. He had 11 pole positions and nine wins.
In 2018, Hamilton and Vettel had a very close fight for their fifth title. They swapped the championship lead several times. Starting from the German Grand Prix Grand Prix, Vettel made mistakes, and Hamilton won from 14th place. Vettel's season then went downhill. Hamilton won several races in a row. He clinched his fifth title in Mexico again. He had 11 pole positions and wins, and 17 podium finishes. He set a new record for most points scored in a season (408). Hamilton signed a new contract with Mercedes, making him the highest-paid Formula One driver.
Hamilton led the championship for most of 2019. Mercedes was very strong in the first half of the season. He held off challenges from Bottas. Hamilton won his sixth title in the United States with two races left. He ended the season with 11 wins and 17 podiums. He broke his own record for most points, scoring 413 points.
Hamilton dominated the 2020 season. He won his seventh Drivers' title, matching Schumacher's record. This season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the shorter season, Hamilton got 10 pole positions and 11 wins. This included his 92nd career win in Portugal, breaking the record for all-time most wins. Hamilton missed the Sakhir Grand Prix race after getting COVID-19. He won the title in the rainy Turkish Grand Prix Grand Prix with three races to spare. He finished 124 points ahead of Bottas.
Close Title Battle (2021)
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New rules for the 2021 season helped Red Bull improve. Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Hamilton became the main title contenders. They had many intense battles on track, including crashes in Britain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia. They finished first and second in 14 of 22 races. Hamilton got his 100th pole position in Spain and his 100th race win in Russia. He was the first driver to achieve both. He won three races in a row near the end of the season. This helped him erase a 19-point gap to Verstappen. They entered the final race in Abu Dhabi tied on points. In Abu Dhabi, Hamilton led most of the race. But a late safety car and a controversial decision by the race director allowed Verstappen to pass him on the last lap and win the championship. Hamilton extended his contract with Mercedes for two more years.
The end of the season was controversial. The race director, Michael Masi, told only some lapped cars to un-lap themselves under the safety car. This closed the gap between Verstappen and Hamilton. Verstappen had fresh tires, while Hamilton had worn tires. The FIA later investigated and removed Masi from his role. They said "human error" caused the problem. Despite the controversy, many called the season "one of the most intense, hard-fought battles in sporting history."
Challenges and Departure from Mercedes (2022–2024)
We dreamed alone, but together we believed. Thank you for all the courage, the determination, the passion, and for seeing me and supporting me. What started out as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books. We did everything together and I’m so so grateful to everyone.
In 2022, Hamilton teamed up with George Russell. This was the first time Hamilton did not win a race or get a pole position in his Formula One career. New technical rules made it a tough season for Mercedes. Their W13 car had problems with "porpoising" (bouncing). Hamilton said it was "undrivable" and caused him back pain. He tried different car setups to help improve the car. After major upgrades, Hamilton got several podium finishes. He set records for most consecutive seasons with a podium finish and at least one lap led. He finished sixth in the standings, behind Russell.
Mercedes still had concerns about their car's performance in 2023. Hamilton had another winless season, but he got several podium finishes and ended up third in the standings. He took his record ninth pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix Grand Prix. This was his first pole since 2021. He signed a two-year contract extension to stay with Mercedes.
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Before the 2024 season, Hamilton used a clause in his contract to leave Mercedes at the end of the year. He had been with Mercedes since he was 13. Hamilton said it was a hard decision, but he needed a new challenge. Mercedes had inconsistent performance, and Hamilton struggled to adapt to the W15 car. This led to a challenging season. However, Mercedes improved mid-season. Hamilton won his ninth British Grand Prix victory, ending a 31-month winless streak. He broke the record for most wins at the same Grand Prix. He also became the first driver to win after more than 300 starts. Hamilton got his 200th podium finish in Hungary and another win in Belgium. He finished seventh in the championship, ending his time with Mercedes. This partnership was the most successful in Formula One history.
Ferrari (2025 onwards)
After announcing his departure from Mercedes, Ferrari said Hamilton would join their team in 2025. He replaced Carlos Sainz Jr. and became teammates with Charles Leclerc. Hamilton said it had been a "childhood dream" to drive for Ferrari. This move was one of the most surprising driver transfers in Formula One history. It was also the first time he would not drive for a Mercedes-powered team. He finished tenth in his first race with Ferrari in Australia. Hamilton then won his first sprint race in China. He was later disqualified from the main race for a car issue. Hamilton described his early struggles as "painful." He has finished fourth in races like Emilia Romagna, Austria, and Britain.
Lewis Hamilton's Driving Style
Hamilton is considered one of the most complete drivers. He is good in many areas. He has an aggressive driving style and a natural talent for finding the car's limits. Experts say he is "super-hard on the brakes" and can control the car very well. Paddy Lowe, a former McLaren engineering director, said Hamilton is comfortable with a car that is unstable at the back, which most drivers would find difficult.
Hamilton is also praised for adapting to different car setups and track conditions. He often uses less fuel than his teammates because he carries speed through corners. Former McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa said Hamilton and Alonso were the best he had seen. He noted their ability to carry speed into corners and maintain it even when tires lost grip.
Hamilton is known for his consistency, especially at Mercedes. From 2017 to 2018, he finished in point-scoring positions for 33 races in a row. This streak ended due to car problems. Ross Brawn said Hamilton "hardly put a foot wrong" in 2018. He won races he should have and even some where rivals were stronger. Martin Brundle said Hamilton makes very few mistakes in racing and qualifying.
Hamilton is considered one of the best wet-weather drivers. Some of his best performances have been in the rain. In the 2008 British Grand Prix, he beat second place by over a minute. This was the largest win margin since 1995. During the turbo-hybrid era, Hamilton won every wet race from 2014 until 2019. His drive at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, where he won his seventh title, was highly praised. He started sixth but managed his tires better than rivals. He won by over 30 seconds. Hamilton called this his "stand-out" performance of the season.
Ayrton Senna greatly influenced Hamilton's driving style. Hamilton said he watched Senna when he was young and wanted to drive like him. He has been compared to Senna in terms of raw speed. In 2010, Hamilton drove Senna's old championship-winning car for a TV show. He named Senna as the best driver ever.
Earlier in his career, Hamilton was sometimes criticized for being too impulsive. But after joining Mercedes, he showed more maturity while still being aggressive. The official Formula One website describes him as "invariably a fierce but fair fighter."
Lewis Hamilton's Public Image
Facing Racism
Lewis Hamilton is the first and only black driver in Formula One. He has faced racist abuse throughout his career. In 2007, he experienced racist comments from Spanish fans. In 2008, during testing, some Spanish spectators wore black face paint and wigs, and shirts with racist messages. The FIA warned Spanish authorities and started a "Race Against Racism" campaign. In 2021, Hamilton received online racist abuse after a controversial win. Mercedes, Formula One, and the FIA condemned the abuse.
Some critics say the media has treated Hamilton unfairly due to his race. In 2014, a journalist suggested British newspapers had double standards for Hamilton compared to other British drivers. In 2019, footballer Rio Ferdinand said media scrutiny of Hamilton had "racist undertones." Hamilton said he used to ignore being the first black driver but now "appreciates the implications" and works to promote equality. His team boss, Toto Wolff, said Hamilton was "scarred for life" by childhood racist abuse.
Media and Influence
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Hamilton's lifestyle and interests outside Formula One have been discussed a lot. He is praised for not following typical expectations and is seen as one of the last superstar drivers. He often travels between races to pursue his interests. For example, in 2018, after winning a race in Italy, he flew to Shanghai and New York to launch a clothing line. Then he immediately flew back and won the next race in Singapore. His Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff, supports Hamilton's outside activities, saying it helps him perform his best.
Many people in the sport, like Emerson Fittipaldi and Christian Horner, support Hamilton's ability to connect with fans. Bernie Ecclestone admired how Hamilton promotes the sport and interacts with fans. In 2019, a journalist said Hamilton was one of the best representatives of the sport, both on and off the track. After Hamilton was knighted in 2020, Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali called him "a true giant of our sport."
Hamilton has been recognized in the Powerlist, a list of influential Black Britons. In 2021, he was named the most influential Black Briton for his success and his work with the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2020, Time magazine included him in their 100 most influential people globally. He was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours for his services to motorsports.
Other Activities
Activism and Charity Work
Promoting Diversity and Anti-Racism
Hamilton is a strong supporter of fighting racism and increasing diversity in motorsport. In 2018, he said that "nothing's changed" in terms of diversity since his debut.
In 2020, as part of the U.S. national anthem protests, Hamilton took the knee before every Grand Prix to support Black Lives Matter. He also wore t-shirts promoting racial justice. After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Hamilton criticized Formula One figures for their silence. He wrote on Instagram that he felt alone as one of the only people of color in the sport.
After Hamilton's comments, other drivers and team leaders agreed with him. Ross Brawn, Formula One's managing director, said the organization "supports [Hamilton] totally." During the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix, Hamilton wore a t-shirt calling for justice for Breonna Taylor. The FIA later stopped drivers from wearing unofficial clothes on the podium. Hamilton said he didn't regret it and appreciated the support from fans.
In June 2020, Hamilton started The Hamilton Commission with the Royal Academy of Engineering. Its goal is to help more black people get involved in motorsport and engineering. In May 2021, Hamilton received the first Laureus Athlete Advocate of the Year Award. In July 2021, Hamilton founded Mission 44, a charity to help young people from under-represented backgrounds. He promised to donate money to support the charity. Mission 44 works with Ignite, a foundation by Hamilton and Mercedes. Ignite aims to increase diversity in motorsport through education and financial help.
Human Rights Advocacy
In December 2020, Hamilton spoke out about human rights in Bahrain. He said he "won't let it go unnoticed" after an 11-year-old boy wrote to him asking for help for his father, who faced the death penalty. Hamilton talked about the case with human rights groups and Bahraini officials. He believes drivers should not ignore what is happening in countries where they compete.
Hamilton also supports LGBT rights. He criticized the Hungarian government before the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix for their anti-LGBT law. He also spoke about LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia before the first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Grand Prix, calling them "terrifying."
Environmental and Animal Rights
Hamilton has spoken about environmental issues and animal rights. He uses his social media to support his initiatives. These include asking China to classify dogs as pets, supporting charities against wildlife smuggling, and calling for the protection of the Amazon rainforest.
In January 2020, Hamilton donated money to help with the bushfires in Australia. He also announced his goal to be carbon neutral by the end of the year. He said his office and home use recyclable items, he sold his private jet, and he planned to fly less.
Working with UNICEF
In 2012, Hamilton started working with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). In March 2012, he visited the Philippines to make a film about street children in Manila. The film helped raise over £4.9 million for UNICEF. In October 2012, he visited a UNICEF-funded newborn care unit in India. Hamilton said he feels he has a role to play in telling the stories of vulnerable children.
In 2014, Hamilton went to Haiti to make a film about child malnutrition. This film helped raise over £6 million for UNICEF. In 2015, Hamilton took part in an exhibition to highlight UNICEF's work. In June 2017, he joined the Super Dads initiative, which focuses on fathers' roles in early childhood development. In August 2017, Hamilton visited Havana with UNICEF to learn about their programs in Cuba.
In 2020, Hamilton partnered with #TOGETHERBAND to promote the United Nations' 17 Global Goals. He visited a school in London to talk about the importance of education. Hamilton is a GOAL 4 Ambassador, working for quality education for all children.
Other Charitable Efforts
Hamilton has supported various causes over the years. He has made donations and visited sick children in hospitals. He has invited fans and young people to Grand Prix races and events. In 2013, he became the Global Education Ambassador for Save the Children. Two years later, he became the first ambassador for the Invictus Games Foundation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his Neat Burger restaurant donated free meals to frontline NHS workers. Neat Burger also offered free meals to school children during holidays.
Hamilton often donates personal items for charity auctions. He auctioned a racing kart to raise money for a baby charity. He has raised money for the Small Steps Project multiple times. He also attends charity events and supports organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Comic Relief, and Children in Need. He also has his own Lewis Hamilton Foundation, which gives grants to charitable causes.
Interests in Popular Culture
Music and Film
Hamilton is passionate about music. He started playing guitar at 13. He has said music is a place where he can be himself. He featured on Christina Aguilera's 2018 song "Pipe" under the name XNDA. He confirmed this in 2020, saying he had been writing and recording music for ten years.
During his last year with McLaren, Hamilton voiced an animated version of himself in the series Tooned. He also voiced a character in the movies Cars 2 (2011) and Cars 3 (2017). Hamilton was an executive producer for the 2018 documentary film The Game Changers. He was offered a role in the film Top Gun: Maverick (2022) by Tom Cruise but had to decline due to his Formula One schedule. He was also an executive producer for Motorcycle Mary (2024), a short documentary.
In October 2022, Hamilton started his own production company, Dawn Apollo Films. Their first projects include a film called F1 (2025), starring Brad Pitt, and a documentary about Hamilton himself. Both will be on Apple TV+.
Video Games and Fashion
Hamilton has been a "maestro" for the Gran Turismo video game series since Gran Turismo Sport in 2017. In November 2023, Epic Games added a Hamilton player skin to Fortnite. A likeness of his dog, Roscoe, was also added.
In 2018, Hamilton launched a clothing line called TommyXLewis with designer Tommy Hilfiger. Hamilton was one of the co-chairs for the 2025 Met Gala in Manhattan.
Business Ventures
In September 2019, Hamilton co-founded a vegan restaurant chain called Neat Burger. It aimed to be the first international plant-based burger chain. The company closed in 2025. In August 2020, Hamilton was listed as an investor who bought the fashion magazine W.
In September 2020, Hamilton launched Team X44 to compete in the all-electric SUV racing series Extreme E. The X44 team finished second in the first championship. In January 2022, X44 won the first Extreme E Sustainability Award. The team won the 2022 Championship in the final race.
In August 2022, Hamilton joined the ownership group of the National Football League's Denver Broncos.
Lewis Hamilton's Personal Life
In 2017, Hamilton said he became vegan. He explained that he wanted to live a healthier life and reduce his impact on the environment. In 2018, he was named PETA Person of the Year for his vegan activism.
Hamilton used the number 44 in karts because his father's car had "F44" on its license plate. When new Formula One driver number rules came in for the 2014 season, drivers could pick a unique number for their careers. Hamilton chose 44. Before the 2015 season, Hamilton said he would not use the number 1, which champions can use. He would keep racing with 44.
Hamilton enjoys art. He has said that Andy Warhol is one of his favorite artists. From 2007 to 2015, Hamilton had an on-and-off relationship with Nicole Scherzinger, the lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls.
Hamilton is a Catholic. He says he prays regularly and is guided by his faith. He believes he has the "hand of God" helping him when he races. In March 2022, Hamilton said he was changing his name to include his mother's maiden name, Larbalestier, as a middle name. He was made an honorary citizen of Brazil in June 2022.
Awards and Honours
Formula One Achievements
- Formula One World Drivers' Championship: 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
- DHL Fastest Lap Award: 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020
- FIA Pole Trophy: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
- Hawthorn Memorial Trophy: 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
- Lorenzo Bandini Trophy: 2009
- FIA Action of the Year: 2022
- FIA Personality of the Year: 2014, 2018, 2020, 2021
Other Awards
Hamilton has received many awards and honors during his career. He won the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award in 2008. He shared the Sportsman of the Year Award with Lionel Messi in 2020. Hamilton also won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award (2014, 2020). He has won a record 19 Autosport Awards. He was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017. Hamilton was also a co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala.
Special Honours
Brazil
Honorary Citizenship (2022)
Grenada
- Honorary Award (2008)
United Kingdom
Member of the Order of the British Empire (2009)
Knight Bachelor (2021)
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Fellowships
- Honorary Fellow, Royal Academy of Engineering (2019)
Recognition
- Lewis Hamilton by Dario Mitidieri, National Portrait Gallery, London (2007)
- Hamilton Straight, Silverstone Circuit (2020)
Images for kids
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Hamilton's first Mercedes helmet in 2013, featuring colour ribbons moved forward.
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Hamilton's special helmet design used for the 2021 São Paulo Grand Prix.
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Alonso (left) and Hamilton (right) at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix
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Hamilton (left) and Rosberg (right) at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix
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Hamilton (left) and Vettel (right) at the 2017 United States Grand Prix
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Hamilton waving to fans after winning the 2018 Italian Grand Prix
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Hamilton's 2007 helmet for McLaren
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See also
In Spanish: Lewis Hamilton para niños
