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 races in Formula One for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton has won seven Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles. This ties him with Michael Schumacher for the most titles ever. He also holds records for the most wins (105), pole positions (104), and podium finishes (202).
Lewis grew up in Stevenage, England. He started karting when he was six years old. 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 in 2000, Lewis moved up to junior racing. He won the Formula 3 Euro Series and the GP2 Series.
He joined McLaren in 2007. He was the first black driver in Formula One. In his first season, he won four races. He finished second in the championship by just one point. Lewis won his first title in 2008. He made a final-lap overtake in the last race to become the youngest champion at that time. After this, the Red Bull team was very strong for a few years. Lewis still won many races with McLaren.
In 2013, Lewis joined Mercedes. He teamed up with his old karting friend, Nico Rosberg. After his first win with Mercedes, new engine rules came in for 2014. Mercedes became the top team. For the next three years, Lewis and Nico had a fierce rivalry. Lewis won titles in 2014 and 2015. Nico won in 2016. After Nico retired, Lewis won his fourth and fifth titles in 2017 and 2018. He beat Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.
Lewis won his sixth title in 2019. In 2020, he broke more records. He won his seventh World Drivers' Championship, matching Michael Schumacher's record. In 2021, Lewis became the first driver to get 100 race wins and 100 pole positions. He finished second to Max Verstappen after a very close and controversial final race. After two seasons without wins in 2022 and 2023, he won his ninth British Grand Prix in 2024. This was his last season with Mercedes. Lewis signed with Ferrari for 2025 and will stay until at least the end of 2026.
Lewis Hamilton has helped make Formula One more popular around the world. He is known for his lifestyle and his work for the environment and social justice. He also speaks up for racial justice and more diversity in motorsport. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people globally in 2020. He was also knighted in 2021.
Lewis Hamilton: Racing Superstar
Early Life and How He Started Racing
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton was born on 7 January 1985 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. His father, Anthony Hamilton, is from Grenada. His mother, Carmen Larbalestier, is White British from Birmingham. This makes Lewis mixed-race. His parents separated when he was two. He lived with his mother until he was twelve. Then he lived with his father, stepmother, and half-brother Nicolas. Nicolas is also a professional racing driver. Lewis was raised Catholic.
When Lewis was five, his father bought him a radio-controlled car. The next year, Lewis finished second in a national championship against adults. He was the only black child racing at his club and faced racist comments. For Christmas when he was six, his father bought him a go-kart. His father promised to support his racing if Lewis worked hard at school. To help Lewis, his father took on many jobs. He worked as an IT manager, a salesman, and a dishwasher. He always went to Lewis's races. His father later started his own IT company. He was Lewis's manager until 2010.
Lewis went to The John Henry Newman School. He said he started karate at five to defend himself from bullying. He also played football for his school team with England international player, Ashley Young. Lewis 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 studied at Cambridge Arts and Sciences (CATS).
Junior Racing Career: From Karts to GP2
Karting Success
Lewis started karting in 1993. He quickly won many races and championships. In 1995, at age ten, he became the youngest to win the British cadet karting championship. That year, he met McLaren Formula One team boss Ron Dennis. Lewis told him, "Hi. I'm Lewis Hamilton. I won the British Championship and one day I want to be racing your cars." Dennis wrote in Lewis's autograph book, "Phone me in nine years, we'll sort something out then."
In 1998, Dennis called Lewis after he won more championships. He offered Lewis a spot in the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme. This contract included a chance to race in Formula One later. This made Lewis the youngest driver to get such a contract.
Lewis kept improving in karting. He became European Champion in 2000. His teammate was Nico Rosberg, who would later be his Formula One rival. In 2001, Michael Schumacher raced karts again for one event. Lewis finished seventh, four places behind Schumacher. Schumacher praised the young British driver.
Moving Up: Formula Renault and Formula Three
Lewis started car racing in 2001 in the British Formula Renault Winter Series. In 2002, he finished third overall in the Formula Renault UK series. He stayed with Manor for another year in Formula Renault UK. He won the championship easily, with 10 wins from 15 races.
In 2004, he raced in the Formula 3 Euro Series. He finished fifth in the championship. He also won the Bahrain F3 Superprix. Lewis had his first Formula One test with McLaren in late 2004. He joined ASM for the 2005 season. He dominated the championship, winning 15 of 20 races. He also won the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3.
Conquering GP2
Lewis moved to ART Grand Prix for the 2006 season. He won the GP2 championship on his first try, beating Nelson Piquet Jr.. He had a great win at the Nürburgring. At his home race in Silverstone, he made amazing overtakes. He won the title in the last race.
Formula One Career: A Champion's Journey
McLaren Years (2007–2012)
Lewis's success in GP2 led to a spot at McLaren-Mercedes. He joined the team in 2007. He partnered with two-time champion Fernando Alonso.
Amazing Debut Seasons (2007–2008)
In his first Formula One season, Lewis became the first black driver to race in the series. He finished third in his first race. He then set many records. He had the most consecutive podium finishes from his debut (9). He also had the most wins in a debut season (4). Lewis led the championship early on. But he lost the lead at the end and finished second by just one point. His teammate Alonso finished with the same points. Lewis and Alonso had some tense moments during the season. Alonso left McLaren after the season. Lewis signed a new contract to stay with McLaren until 2012.
In 2008, Lewis continued his winning streak. He won five races and had 10 podium finishes. He battled with Ferrari drivers for the title. At the rainy 2008 British Grand Prix, he won by over a minute. This was seen as one of the best wet-weather drives ever. Lewis won his first title at the last race in Brazil. He passed another car on the final lap to win the championship by one point. He became the youngest World Drivers' Champion at that time. He was also the first British driver to win the title since Damon Hill in 1996.
Later McLaren Years and Moving On (2009–2012)
In his last years with McLaren, Lewis continued to win races. However, the Red Bull team was very strong. In 2009, McLaren struggled at the start. But after upgrades, Lewis improved and won two races.
In 2010, Lewis teamed up with Jenson Button. He was in a four-way title fight. He led the championship after winning the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix. But mechanical problems and crashes cost him points. He finished fourth in the standings.
2011 was a tough year for Lewis. He finished fifth in the standings with three wins. He vowed to come back stronger.
In 2012, McLaren was a title contender. But Lewis had many mechanical failures. He had five race retirements, three while leading. He finished fourth in the standings with four wins. Lewis decided to leave McLaren after 15 years. He wanted a new challenge and joined Mercedes for 2013.
Mercedes Era (2013–2024)
Teaming Up with Rosberg (2013–2016)
Joining Mercedes in 2013, Lewis reunited with his childhood karting teammate, Nico Rosberg. Many people were surprised by this move. Lewis finished fourth in his first season with Mercedes. He had one win at the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix.
New engine rules in 2014 made Mercedes very strong. They won 16 of 19 races. Lewis won 11 races and battled Rosberg for the title. He overcame some bad luck and won his second World Drivers' Championship in Abu Dhabi. He called it "the greatest day of [his] life."
Lewis kept his racing number 44. In 2015, he beat Rosberg again to win his second straight title. He won 10 races and led the championship all season. His rivalry with Rosberg grew more intense. Lewis extended his contract with Mercedes for three more years.
In 2016, Lewis finished second to Rosberg by five points. He had a difficult start with poor race-starts and mechanical issues. Lewis won six of seven races in the middle of the season. A crucial engine failure in Malaysia hurt his chances. He won the last four races, but Rosberg took the title. Rosberg then announced his surprise retirement. Lewis finished with 10 wins, the most for a driver who didn't win the championship.
Four Titles in a Row (2017–2020)
After Rosberg retired, Valtteri Bottas became Lewis's teammate in 2017. Ferrari and Vettel were strong rivals. Lewis dominated the second half of the season. He won five of six races. He broke the record for most pole positions. Lewis won his fourth World Drivers' title in Mexico.
In 2018, Lewis and Vettel had a close fight for their fifth title. Lewis won his fifth title in Mexico again. He won 11 races and set a new record for most points in a season (408). Lewis signed a new contract with Mercedes, making him the highest-paid Formula One driver.
Lewis led the championship for most of 2019. Mercedes was very strong. He won his sixth title in the United States. He finished the season with 11 wins and broke his own points record with 413 points.
Lewis dominated the 2020 season. He won his seventh Drivers' title, matching Michael Schumacher's record. He won 11 races in a shorter season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He broke the record for most wins ever at the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix. Lewis missed one race after getting COVID-19. He won the title at the rainy 2020 Turkish Grand Prix with three races left.
Intense Battle with Verstappen (2021)
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In 2021, Red Bull and Max Verstappen became strong rivals. Lewis and Max had an intense battle for the title. They crashed into each other in some races. Lewis got his 100th pole position and 100th race win. He was the first driver to do both. Lewis won three races in a row near the end of the season. He caught up to Verstappen in points for the final race. In Abu Dhabi, Lewis led most of the race. But a late safety car allowed Verstappen to overtake him on the last lap. Verstappen won the championship.
The end of the season was controversial. The race director made a decision about lapped cars that helped Verstappen. The FIA later said it was a "human error." But the final results stood. Many people called the season one of the most exciting in sports history.
Mercedes' Challenges and Departure (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, Lewis teamed up with George Russell. This was the first season Lewis didn't win a race or get a pole position. Mercedes struggled with their new car, which had a problem called "porpoising." Lewis helped develop the car and got some podium finishes. He finished sixth in the standings.
Mercedes still had car issues in 2023. Lewis had another winless season, but he got several podiums. He took pole position at the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. This was his first pole since 2021 and a record ninth at that track. Lewis signed a new two-year contract with Mercedes.
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Before the 2024 season, Lewis decided to leave Mercedes at the end of the year. He said it was a hard decision but he needed a new challenge. Mercedes' car was still inconsistent. But Lewis won his ninth British Grand Prix, ending his long winless streak. He also won in Belgium. Lewis finished seventh in the championship. This marked the end of his very successful time with Mercedes.
Ferrari (2025 onwards)
After leaving Mercedes, Ferrari announced that Lewis would join them in 2025. He will replace Carlos Sainz Jr. and partner Charles Leclerc. Lewis said it was a "childhood dream" to drive for Ferrari. He wants to help the team win championships again. This move surprised many people in Formula One.
Driver Profile
Driving Style
Lewis Hamilton is known as a very complete driver. He is good at many things. He has an aggressive driving style and is great at finding the car's limits. Experts say he is "super-hard on the brakes" and can control the car well even when it's unstable.
Lewis is also good at adapting to different car setups and track conditions. He often uses less fuel than his teammates. This is because he carries speed through corners. Former McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa said Lewis and Alonso were the best drivers he had seen. They were both great at carrying speed into corners.
Lewis is known for his consistency, especially at Mercedes. From 2017 to 2018, he finished in the points for 33 races in a row. Experts say he rarely makes mistakes. He is a "fierce but fair fighter."
Lewis is one of the best wet-weather drivers. Some of his best races were in the rain. At the 2008 British Grand Prix, he won by over a minute. This was a huge lead. He also had an amazing drive at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix. He started sixth but won by over 30 seconds in tricky conditions.
Ayrton Senna was a big influence on Lewis's driving. Lewis watched Senna when he was young and wanted to drive like him. Lewis has been compared to Senna for his speed. He even drove Senna's old car for a TV show.
Earlier in his career, Lewis was sometimes criticized for being hot-headed. But after joining Mercedes, he became more mature. He kept his aggressive style but was more controlled.
Helmet Designs and Their Meanings
When Lewis was young, his karting helmet was mostly yellow with blue, green, and red stripes. Later, he added a white ring and moved the stripes for logos. He kept a yellow design in his early Formula One career. In 2014, he switched to a white design with red stripes. In 2016, he added three stars for his championships.
In 2017, Lewis chose a fan-designed helmet. It was white and yellow with red and orange details. He started adding more stars to his helmet for each title he won. In 2020, he used a matte black helmet with purple details. He also added a Black Lives Matter emblem to support the movement. In 2022, he used a bright yellow design with purple details. When he joined Ferrari in 2025, he went back to a yellow base with red accents and the Ferrari emblem.
Lewis has used special helmet designs for certain races. He wore gold helmets for season finales after winning titles. He also uses special designs to honor people. He often pays tribute to Ayrton Senna at the Brazilian Grand Prix. In 2019, he wore a helmet honoring Niki Lauda, who helped him join Mercedes.
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Other special designs include his rainbow helmets. He used these in 2021 to support LGBTQ rights. He also used unique designs for the Japanese Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023, created by Japanese artists.
Key Rivalries on Track
Fernando Alonso
In Lewis's first season, he was teammates with two-time champion Fernando Alonso. They had some tense moments. At the Monaco Grand Prix, Lewis felt he was held back. Later, at the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix, Alonso delayed Lewis in the pits. This led to penalties for Alonso and McLaren.
Their relationship became difficult. Alonso left McLaren after that season. In later years, they gained mutual respect. Alonso has praised Lewis as one of the greatest drivers ever. When Alonso left F1 in 2018, Lewis and Sebastian Vettel honored him with donuts on the track.
As teammates, Lewis and Alonso each won four races and had 12 podiums. They finished tied on points in the championship.
Nico Rosberg
When Lewis joined Mercedes in 2013, he reunited with his childhood friend Nico Rosberg. Over their four seasons as teammates, Mercedes was very dominant. Their friendship became strained, and they had many intense moments on track. They first raced together in karting in 2000.
Experts compared their styles. Lewis was seen as faster and more naturally talented. Rosberg was more analytical. Lewis was also very good at managing his tires and fuel. This often helped him in races.
Together, Lewis and Rosberg won 54 of 78 races. Lewis won 32 races and Rosberg won 22. Lewis won two World Championship titles to Rosberg's one.
Sebastian Vettel
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Lewis says his rivalry with Sebastian Vettel was his favorite. He felt it brought them closer. After Mercedes' dominance, Ferrari and Vettel became strong rivals in 2017 and 2018. Vettel led early on, but Lewis fought back to win both championships.
They had some heated moments, like at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. But they developed great respect for each other. Lewis said racing against Vettel, a four-time champion at Ferrari, was a huge challenge. He said it made them both work harder.
Beyond the Track: Activism and Business
Standing Up for What's Right
Promoting Diversity and Fighting Racism
Lewis is a strong voice against racism and for more diversity in motorsport. In 2018, he said Formula One hadn't changed much in terms of diversity since his debut.
In 2020, Lewis took the knee before every race to support Black Lives Matter. He wore t-shirts promoting racial justice. After the murder of George Floyd, Lewis spoke out. He criticized people in Formula One for being silent. He said, "I'm one of the only people of colour there yet I stand alone." Many drivers and team leaders then supported him. Formula One's managing director said they "support [Hamilton] totally."
In June 2020, Lewis started The Hamilton Commission. This group works to get more black people involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) and motorsport. In 2021, he received an award for being an "Athlete Advocate." Lewis also founded Mission 44 in July 2021. This charity helps young people from under-represented backgrounds. He pledged £20 million to support it. Mission 44 works with Ignite, a foundation with Mercedes. Ignite helps increase diversity in motorsport through education and financial support.
Supporting Human Rights
In December 2020, Lewis spoke out about human rights in Bahrain. He talked about allegations of sportswashing. He said he wouldn't ignore what was happening in countries where he raced.
Lewis also supports LGBT rights. He criticized the Hungarian government's anti-LGBT law before the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. He also called out LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia before the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. In May 2024, Lewis called for a halt to the offensive in Rafah, Gaza.
Caring for the Environment and Animals
Lewis often talks about environmental issues and animal rights. He uses social media to support his causes. He has urged China to reclassify dogs as pets. He supports charities fighting the illegal wildlife trade. He also calls for protecting the Amazon rainforest. In 2020, he donated US$500,000 to help with the bushfire crisis in Australia.
In 2019, Lewis asked Mercedes-Benz to stop using animal leather in their cars. He wants to make Formula One more sustainable. In 2020, he announced he aimed to be carbon neutral. He said he doesn't allow plastics in his office or home. He sold his private plane and flies less now.
Working with UNICEF and #TOGETHERBAND
Since 2012, Lewis has worked with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). He has made films about street children in the Philippines and child malnutrition in Haiti. These films helped raise millions for UNICEF. He also visited a UNICEF-funded center in India.
In 2020, Lewis partnered with #TOGETHERBAND. This campaign promotes the United Nations' 17 Global Goals. Lewis is a GOAL 4 Ambassador. He focuses on providing quality education for all children.
Other Charitable Work
Lewis supports many other charities. He visits sick children in hospitals. He invites fans to races and events. In 2013, he became the Global Education Ambassador for Save the Children. He also became the first ambassador for the Invictus Games Foundation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his Neat Burger restaurant gave free meals to NHS workers and school children.
Lewis often donates items for charity auctions. He has raised thousands of pounds for various causes. He 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 charities.
Fashion and Business Ventures
In 2018, Lewis launched a clothing line called TOMMYXLEWIS with designer Tommy Hilfiger. Lewis said he grew up seeing the iconic Tommy Hilfiger flag. Hilfiger praised Lewis's bold and sophisticated style.
In September 2019, Lewis opened a vegan restaurant called Neat Burger. It aims to be the first international plant-based burger chain. Neat Burger has won awards for being the "Best Vegan Restaurant of the Year." In 2020, Lewis also became an investor in W fashion magazine.
In September 2020, Lewis launched Team X44. This team competes in Extreme E, an all-electric SUV racing series. Team X44 finished second in the first Extreme E championship. In 2022, they won the championship.
In August 2022, Lewis joined the ownership group of the National Football League's Denver Broncos.
Personal Life
In 2017, Lewis became vegan. He said he did it for the environment and animal welfare. He was named PETA Person of the Year in 2018 for his vegan activism.
Lewis uses the number 44 in racing. His father's car had "F44" on its license plate when Lewis started karting. In Formula One, drivers can pick a unique number. Lewis chose 44 and kept it even when he could have used number 1 as champion.
Lewis enjoys art. He says Andy Warhol is one of his favorite artists. From 2007 to 2015, Lewis had an on-and-off relationship with Nicole Scherzinger, a singer.
Lewis is a Catholic. He says he prays often and is guided by his faith. He believes he has the "hand of God" helping him in racing. In 2022, Lewis announced he was changing his name to include his mother's maiden name, Larbalestier. He was made an honorary citizen of Brazil in 2022. In September 2024, Lewis shared that he has been battling depression since he was 13.
Where Lewis Lives
Lewis moved to Switzerland in 2007 for privacy. He later moved to Monaco in 2010, like many other Formula One drivers. He also owns an apartment in New York and an estate in Colorado.
Wealth and Income
In 2015, Lewis was the richest British sportsperson. His estimated wealth was £88 million. By 2022, it had grown to £300 million.
His contract with Mercedes in 2015 was worth over £100 million. In 2018, he signed another contract worth up to £40 million per year. This made him the highest-paid driver in Formula One history at that time. Forbes listed him as one of the highest-paid athletes of the 2010s.
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
- 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 and Recognition
Lewis has received many awards throughout 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. Lewis also won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2014 and 2020. He has won a record 19 Autosport Awards. He was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017.
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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Lewis Hamilton's signature
See also
In Spanish: Lewis Hamilton para niños
