Sir Lewis Hamilton has become a household name in the world of sport, specifically in Formula 1 racing. He is seen as one of the most successful F1 racers, having broken multiple world records. He has also become incredibly influential due to his work in racial justice and increasing diversity within the motor racing industry, which earned him his knighthood in 2021.
But how did Hamilton become one of the most esteemed and prestigious names in the sporting industry?
Sir Lewis Hamilton was born in 1985 in Hertfordshire and started his racing career in karting at 6, winning six championships. During his karting days, he caught the attention of the then-CEO of the McLaren Group, Sir Ron Dennis.
He continued his karting career and eventually signed with the McLaren group in 2007, becoming the first black person to compete in Formula One during the Australian Grand Prix. During his rookie season 2007, Hamilton won 4 Grand Prix races while setting multiple world records, such as the most points earned in a debut season (109).
He was the runner-up that season, coming up behind Kimi Raikkonen by one point. However, during the 2008 season, he won his maiden title, making him the youngest Formula One World Champion. He was the first British driver to win the event since Damon Hill in 1996.
In 2013, Hamilton signed on with Mercedes and was reunited with his old karting teammate Nico Rosberg. The two engaged in a fierce rivalry throughout their partnership, dubbed the Silver War. Despite the rivalry, he won his maiden victory with Mercedes in the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix and his second championship during that same season.
In 2014, Mercedes won 16 out of the 19 races in the season, 11 of which were won by Hamilton. This was also the year he decided that his car number would remain at 44 for the rest of his career, as this was his old karting number. 2015 saw Hamilton secure his third Championship victory, solidifying him as one of the sport’s greatest drivers.
He wasn’t successful in winning the 2016 Championship but managed a record-breaking four wins in a row in the next few consecutive seasons. 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 were all victorious series for Lewis Hamilton, giving him 7 Championship wins.
This gave him the title of perhaps the most successful F1 racer of all time, as he had tied with Michael Schumacher to have the highest number of Championship wins in history. His career after the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t stop being successful. However, some series, specifically the 2021 season, have been more challenging than others, although this was the same year he received his knighthood.
Due to many technical issues, the ongoing pandemic, and several controversial decisions regarding the results of the final few races, Hamilton lost the 2021 season to Max Verstappen in one of the most nail-biting final races in F1 history.
He recently announced that the 2024 season will be his last with Mercedes, ending 12 successful seasons with the team. However, the group has had a very rocky start to the new season. At the Brazilian Grand Prix at the beginning of November, Hamilton came 14th in the Qualifiers and 10th in the overall race, widely accepted as one of the worst performances in his career with Mercedes.
However, he is still hoping to end his time with Mercedes with a bang before he moves on with his career with Ferrari in 2025. Whatever the results of the ongoing 2024 season, there is no denying that Sir Lewis Hamilton is one of the industry’s most successful and influential people. His legacy as one of the greatest Formula One racers will continue long after his racing career ends.