Lewis Hamilton

At 39 years old, Lewis Hamilton has this physical status:

Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton (born 7 January 1985) is a British racing driver who competes in Formula One for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport.

He is widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest racers, and has been named by some as one of the top players of all time.

He won his first drivers' title with McLaren in 2008 before heading to Mercedes in 2013, where he has won a further five titles.

Hamilton's six World Championship titles ranks second-most in all time, as well as his tally of 84 race victories and 151 podium finishes.

Hamilton, who was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and the most pole positions in a season (331), the most grand slams in a season (1984), and the most points in a season (413).

Hamilton became the first and only black driver to compete in the sport after a 2007 Formula One race with McLaren.

Hamilton set several records during his time as the runner-up to Kimi Räikkönen by a single point.

He captured his maiden title in dramatic style over the course of the season in order to become the second-youngest Formula One World Champion in history.

Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 after four years with McLaren without placing higher than fourth in the drivers' standings, reuniting with his childhood karting teammate, Nico Rosberg. Hamilton's 2014 amendments to regulations requiring the use of turbo-hybrid engines ushered in the start of a fruitful period for the team, in which he has won five more World Championship titles.

Hamilton earned two titles in 2014 and 2015, winning his third World Championships for the first time.

Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari became Hamilton's closest competitor in two intense championship battles following Rosberg's retirement, and Hamilton twice overturned mid-season points deficits to win consecutive titles for the second time in his career in 2017 and 2018.

Michael Schumacher, the third World Drivers' Championship, followed him in 2019 to win a hat-trick of consecutive titles, his highest number in fourth place, second only to seven-time World Drivers' champion Michael Schumacher. Hamilton has been credited with growing Formula One's worldwide fanbase by attempting to a larger audience outside of the sport, including his environmental activism and fashion explorations.

Hamilton has been threatened by racial violence throughout his career, and he has spoken out against racial politics in Formula One as well as calling for greater representation in the sport.

Hamilton's treatment by British newspapers has also been chastised for presenting racial bias, and some have criticized Hamilton's ethnicity and physical appearance as explanations for his apparent unpopularity among a minority of motorsport fans.

Early life and education

Hamilton was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, on January 7, 1985. Anthony Hamilton's father, who is black and of Grenadian descent, is black, while Carmen Larbalestier, a white British woman and from Birmingham, makes him mixed race; Hamilton has identified him as black. When he was two, Hamilton's parents separated, after which he lived with his mother and older half-sisters, Samantha and Nicola, until he was twelve. Hamilton used to live with his father, stepmother Linda, and his half-brother Nicolas, who is also a professional racing driver, together. Hamilton was raised a Catholic.

When he was five years old, Hamilton's father bought him a radio-controlled car. Hamilton came in second place in the national BRCA championship the following year against adult competition. Hamilton was the only black child racing at his club, and he was abused for being a victim of racial violence. When he was six years old, Hamilton's father bought him a go-kart for Christmas and promised to continue his racing career as long as he worked hard at school. Hamilton's father took redundancy from his career as an IT guy and into estate agents, often working up to four different locations at a time, including those as a double glazing salesman, dishwasher, and putting up estate agents' signs while still attending his son's sporting events. Hamilton's father later formed his own IT firm. He continued to be Hamilton's boss until about 2010.

Hamilton was educated at The John Henry Newman School, a free-aided Catholic secondary school in Stevenage. Hamilton took up karate to protect himself after school bullies. He was also barred from school for a time after being mistakenly branded as having assaulted a fellow student who was hospitalized for his injuries. He played association football for his school squad with eventual England international Ashley Young in addition to racing. Hamilton, an Arsenal supporter, said that if Formula One had not been active, he would have been a footballer or a cricketer, having played both for his school teams. He began studying at Cambridge Arts and Sciences (CATS), a private sixth-form college in Cambridge, in February 2001.

Personal life

Hamilton told the BBC that he had become vegan because "a]s the human race, what we are doing to the world, and the pollution [in terms of global warming gases] emanating from the amount of cows that are produced is shocking." The cruelty is horrific, and I don't necessarily want to help it and live a healthier life." In 2018, he was named the PETA Person of the Year for his vegan activism. Hamilton admitted in an interview that he stopped drinking "a while ago." Since he started racing at age 8, his father's red Vauxhall Cavalier had the number plate "F44" and it was his father's idea to use it.

Hamilton is a huge fan of art, and Andy Warhol has been named as one of his favorite artists. Hamilton wore a gold-framed copy of Warhol's Cars, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe painting hanging from a chain around his neck prior to the 2014 Grand Prix in the United States. Hamilton was in an on-and-off relationship with Nicole Scherzinger, the lead singer of Pussycat Dolls from November 2007 to February 2015.

Hamilton is a Catholic; he says he prays regularly and is guided by his faith. When racing in Formula One, Hamilton believes that he has the "hand of God" resting over him. Hamilton is also a promoter of LGBT rights and has sluggishly condemned the Hungarian government before the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, while still opposing the "terrifying" Saudi Arabian LGBT regulations prior to the Grand Prix.

Hamilton revealed on March 14, 2022, that he is legally changing his name to include his mother's maiden name, Larbalestier, as a middle name. After a petition submitted by politician André Figueiredo was accepted in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies on June 9, 2022, Hamilton was made an honorary citizen of Brazil.

After being caught speeding at 196 kilometers per hour (122 mph) on a French motorway, Hamilton was banned from driving in France for a month. His Mercedes-Benz CLK was also impounded. Hamilton "deliberately losing traction" in his silver Mercedes-AMG C63, just two days before the 2010 Australian Grand Prix, and police impounded the vehicle for 48 hours. Hamilton released a statement of regret for "driving in an overexuberant manner." Hamilton was eventually fined A$500 (£288) by the magistrate after being charged with intentionally losing control of a vehicle.

Hamilton's rights management company 44IP refused to register a trade mark for "HAMILTON INTERNATIONAL" in Europe for the selling of watches and timepieces. Hamilton's own watch fund is likely to have aided or even mandated this. 44IP claimed that Swatch Group's application was made in bad faith and that it was in violation of "fair competition" in relation to 44IP's existing "LEWIS HAMILTON" mark. The case was heard before the European Union Intellectual Property Office in 2020 (EUIPO). The EUIPO dismissed 44IP's claims, finding that Swatch Group had no bad faith (with "HAMILTON INTERNATIONAL" being used on relevant products since 1892) and that 44IP's "LEWIS HAMILTON" trade mark did not extend to the word "HAMILTON" alone for the purpose of shielding the existing mark.

Hamilton immigrated to Luins, Vaud, Switzerland, in 2007, citing anonymity as his primary reason for leaving the UK. Taxation was also a factor in his decision, he later said on the television show Parkinson that it was also a factor.

Hamilton, as many other Formula One racers, migrated to Monaco in 2010, buying a house worth more than $100,000. Hamilton also owns an apartment in Manhattan, New York, that he bought for US$40 million in 2017 and an estate in Colorado, where he has said he will live after his retirement.

Hamilton was ranked as the best British sportsperson in 2015, despite an estimated personal fortune of £88 million. Hamilton's net worth of £159 million was estimated in 2018. Hamilton's fortune in 2020 was worth $224 million, making him the richest British sports celebrity in the Sunday Times Rich List's history.

Hamilton signed a three-year deal with Mercedes that extends to the end of the 2018 season, making him one of Formula One's best-paid drivers. Hamilton signed a two-year deal with Mercedes in the weeks leading up to the 2018 German Grand Prix, making him the highest-paid driver in Formula One history.

Source

Junior racing career

Hamilton began karting in 1993 and was quickly recognized in championships and cadet class championships. He became the youngest driver to win the British cadet karting championship at the age of ten two years ago. Hamilton received a signed McLaren Formula One team boss Ron Dennis at the Autosport Awards this year, who said, "Hi." I'm Lewis Hamilton. I won the British Championship, and one day I want to be racing your cars." In Hamilton's autograph book, Dennis wrote: "Phone me in nine years, we'll figure something out then." When Hamilton was 12, Ladbrokes bet that Hamilton would win a Formula One race before the age of 23; at 150/1 odds, another predicted that he would win the World Driver's Championship before he was 25 years old. Dennis Hamilton, who won his second Super One series and British championships in 1998, invited Hamilton to participate in the McLaren driver development program. Hamilton's youngest driver would be the youngest to secure a Formula One seat under a deal that culminated in a Formula One debut.

Hamilton maintained his progress in the Intercontinental A (1999), Formula A (2001), and Formula Super A (2001) rankings, becoming Europe Champion in 2000 with maximum points. Nico Rosberg, a teammate of TeamMBM.com, was racing in Formula A and Formula Super A, and the Williams and Mercedes teams would later compete in Formula One; they would later work for Mercedes from 2013 to 2016. The British Racing Drivers' Club named him a "Rising Star" Member in 2000 after his karting triumphs. Michael Schumacher returned to karts in 2001 and met with Hamilton, Vitantonio Liuzzi, and Nico Rosberg, along with other future Formula One drivers. Hamilton finished seventh, four places behind Schumacher in seventh place. Schumacher praised the young Briton even though they saw little of each other on a parody.

Hamilton began his car racing career in the 2001 British Formula Renault Winter Series, finishing fifth in the standings. This culminated in a complete 2002 Formula Renault UK campaign for Manor Motorsport, in which he came in third overall. He stayed with Manor for another year, winning the championship ahead of Alex Lloyd. Hamilton, who had clinched the championship, skipped the last two races of the season to make his debut in the British Formula 3 Championship's season finale. He was compelled out with a puncture in his first race, but in the second he crashed out and was admitted to hospital after a collision with teammate Tor Graves.

Hamilton, who was asked in 2002 about the possibility of becoming one of the youngest in Formula One, responded with, "not to be the youngest in Formula One" but rather to be seen and then demonstrate what I can do in Formula One." In the 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series, he made his Manor debut in the competition, finishing fifth in the series. He has also won the Bahrain F3 Superprix and twice competed in the Macau F3 Grand Prix. Williams was close to completing Hamilton, but they weren't able to fund him because BMW, the time's engine manufacturer, did not fund him. Hamilton re-signed with McLaren when he arrived. But according to McLaren chief and future CEO Martin Whitmarsh, who was in charge of guiding Hamilton through the team's youth program, Lewis and Henry Hamilton had a "broad row" at the end of the season, culminating in Whitmarsh's departure to GP2 in 2005, which culminated in Whitmarsh's resignation.

Hamilton was first tested for McLaren at Silverstone in late 2004. Hamilton defeated ASM for the 2005 season, defeating 15 of the 20 rounds in the tournament. At Zandvoort, he won the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 for the third time. He appeared in their "Top 50 Drivers of 2005" issue earlier this year, placing Hamilton 24th.

Hamilton's 2006 season saw him join ART Grand Prix, ASM's sister GP2 team. Hamilton won the GP2 championship for the first time, defeating Nelson Piquet Jr. and Timo Glock. Despite a penalty for speeding in the pit lane, he won by a big victory at the Nürburgring. Hamilton took over two rivals at Becketts in a series of high-speed bends where overtaking is unusual. He recovered from an ankle spin that had left him in eighth place to finish second in Istanbul. Hamilton won the title in unusual circumstances after Giorgio Pantano was disqualified of the fastest lap in the Monza feature race.

Hamilton's win in the GP2 championship coincided with a McLaren staff vacancy after Juan Pablo Montoya's departure to NASCAR and Kimi Räikkönen to Ferrari. Hamilton, Pedro de la Rosa, or Gary Paffett would be paired with defending champion Fernando Alonso for 2007, the team's second driver, after months of rumors that Hamilton, Pedro de la Rosa or Gary Paffett would be paired with defending champion Fernando Alonso for 2007. McLaren's decision was announced at the end of September, but he was unaware that the decision was not made public for nearly two months due to fear that it would be overshadowed by Michael Schumacher's retirement announcement.

Formula One career

Fernando Alonso, Hamilton's first season in Formula One, saw him partner two times and defending World Champion Fernando Alonso. Hamilton is the first black driver to race in the series as of 2022. Hamilton, who came in last place on his debut in his debut, set new records in the 2007 World Drivers' Championship to Kimi Räikkönen by a single point, including those for the most consecutive podium finishes from debut (9), including those for the most points in a debut season (109). Hamilton and Alonso were involved in a variety of incidents throughout the season that culminated in problems between both drivers and the team, culminating in Alonso and McLaren's resolving their employment by mutual consent in November. Hamilton has signed a multi-million-pound contract to remain with the team until 2012.

Hamilton's success in 2008 continued as he gained five victories and ten podium finishes. Felipe Massa, the home favourite, and the young Briton came to a conclusion in Brazil as the season came to an end. Hamilton claimed his first title in the tenth race of the season, the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, overtaking Timo Glock for fifth position in the final corners of the last lap, delaying race-winner Massa by a single one point. Hamilton was the first British driver to win the World Championship after Damon Hill in 1996.

Hamilton continued to win podium accolades and race titles in his four years with McLaren. Hamilton had a chance to win the title this season, but instead finished fourth as Sebastian Vettel claimed the competition for his maiden drivers' crown. During a year in which distractions in his personal life and run-ins with FIA officials saw Hamilton finish fifth in the standings, the following year was his first season as he was out-scored by a teammate. Hamilton finished fourth in the standings in the 2012 season with four race wins in a row. Hamilton revealed that he would join Mercedes for the 2013 season, much to his surprise, replacing the departed Michael Schumacher.

Hamilton reunited with his childhood karting teammate, Nico Rosberg, after signing with Mercedes in 2013. Pundits and the general public expressed surprise at the change, with some describing the move to Mercedes as a gamble, while others were more dismissive. Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix for the first time in five years, turning an unexpected pole position into a winning margin of over 11 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Kimi Räikkönen.

Hamilton's 2014 reforms, which mandated the use of turbo-hybrid engines, were a catalyst in the beginning of a fruitful period for the company. Mercedes won 16 of the 19 races this season, 11 of whom were won by Hamilton as he defeated teammate Rosberg in a season-long duel for the title. Hamilton won his second straight title and eclipsing the total number of British drivers before him, Hamilton declared victory over team-radio after the final race in Abu Dhabi: "This is the best day of my life." New driver number control laws introduced in 2014 allowed drivers to select a unique car number to use for their entire career, but Hamilton refused to drive under his old karting No. 92. For the remainder of his career, he was 44.

Hamilton said he would not be exercising his option of switching his car number to 1, as was his prerogative as the reigning World Champion, but instead will continue to race with his No. 1s. 44. It was the first season since 1994, when Alain Prost retired from the sport after winning his fourth and final World Drivers' Championship title in 1993, but no one was allowed to race one of the No. 1. Hamilton dominated the 2015 season, winning ten races and finishing on the podium for a record seventeen times as he tied his hero Ayrton Senna's three World Championships titles. The rivalry between him and Rosberg erupted, culminating in a tense contest between Hamilton and his compatriot, who took home the trophy with three races to spare. Hamilton's three-year deal with Mercedes extended his career for three years, making him one of the sport's highest-paid drivers, as well as allowing Hamilton to keep his own image rights, which is considered unusual in the case, and his championship-winning cars and trophies.

Hamilton lost the drivers' title by five points to his coworker, Rosberg, despite more pole positions and races wins than any other driver in 2016. Hamilton's policy of encouraging his teammates to compete freely resulted in several acrimonious exchanges on and off the track, culminating in Hamilton defying team orders at the season's finale in Abu Dhabi and deliberately slowing Rosberg to fall behind the team's chasing pack at the end of the season in an unsuccessful attempt to encourage other drivers to surpass his teammate, which would have allowed him to win the championship. Ultimately, Hamilton's bad start to the season as well as a critical engine blowout in Malaysia had Rosberg win the title, which he did well to win before deciding to withdraw from the sport immediately after defeating his adversary.

Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari became Hamilton's closest competitor after Rosberg's retirement in 2017 as the pair traded the championship lead in a tight title match. Hamilton claimed 11 pole positions this season, setting a record for the first pole positions, his consistency (finishing every race in the points), as well as a lack of a strong challenge from Valtteri Bottas, who claimed the title with two races to spare, culminating in his fourth World Drivers' title.

Journalists and followers announced that the 2018 season would be the first time two four-time World Champions, Hamilton and Vettel, would be competing for a fifth title. For the most part of the year, Ferrari and Vettel seemed to have the upper hand for a good portion of the season, leading the standings until the half-way point. However, Vettel's season unravelled due to a string of driver and mechanical flaws, while Hamilton's run of six victories in seven in the second half of the season saw Hamilton clinch the title for the second time in a row (408). During the season, Hamilton signed a two-year deal with Mercedes, making him the highest-paid Formula One driver in history.

Hamilton will defend his title in 2019. Having signed a deal with Mercedes that lasted until 2020, it was announced that Hamilton would defend his title in 2020. Hamilton led the drivers' standings for the majority of the season, fighting off championship threats from teammate Bottas, the Honda-powered Red Bull of Verstappen, and Ferrari's recently promoted Leclerc to clinch his sixth drivers' crown at the 2019 United States Grand Prix with two races remaining. Hamilton ended the season with 11 victories (matching his previous best in 2014 and 2018) and 17 podiums (matching the all-time record for a fourth time) as well as 5 pole positions. The Briton finished 87 points ahead of second-placed Bottas, with a total score of 413 points for the season.

Hamilton claimed his seventh drivers' championship in 2020, equaling Schumacher's record in a season strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hamilton won 11 games (equalling his previous personal record, but in fewer races), including one in Portugal to smash Schumacher's record of 91 victories. He has also won 14 podiums and ten pole positions. Hamilton missed the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix after contracting COVID-19, his first race absence since his debut in 2007. Hamilton clinched the title with three rounds to spare, leaving the season 124 points ahead of his teammate, Bottas, who finished second in the standings. Hamilton took the knee before every race he entered and wore t-shirts carrying the Black Lives Matter message, as part of Formula One's We Race as One campaign and growing worldwide support for the Black Lives Matter campaign. A black livery was also on display in Hamilton and Bottas as a sign of Mercedes' commitment to diversity.

Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen emerged as the top candidates early in the 2021 season. Throughout the season, the pair frequently traded the championship lead—often sparring (and occasionally coming together) —and then put the campaign into motion in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen overtook Hamilton in Abu Dhabi on the final lap of the season, denying Hamilton his eighth title. Hamilton was the first driver to reach 100 pole positions and 100 race wins in the United States during the season.

The season's finale was marred by controversies surrounding race director Michael Masi's decision to order only the lapped cars separating Verstappen and Hamilton to unlap themselves under the safety car, which closed any gap between the two teams and allowed the Dutchman, who was wearing new soft tyres, to run straight behind Hamilton on his soiled hard tyres. The FIA revealed that it would launch an internal investigation into the incident four days after the race. Masi was later fired from his position as race director, with the FIA World Motor Sport Council's report revealing that "human error" resulted in the failure to follow Formula One Sporting Rules concerning the removal of the safety vehicle, but that the final standings "are valid, final, and cannot be changed." Despite the controversies in Abu Dhabi, BBC Sport's Andrew Benson described the season as "one of the most intense, hard-fought matches in sports history," with Hamilton and Verstappen having "been head and shoulders"—and a lot more—showing that virtually every other driver on the grid."

In place of the defunct Bottas, Hamilton is joined by George Russell in 2022. Significant reforms in scientific legislation were made during the season, with the intention of using ground effect to produce downforce. Mercedes unveiled its "zero sidepod" vehicle style during pre-season testing in Bahrain, which was drastically different from that of its competitors. At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton called the Mercedes W13 "undrivable" due to extreme porpoising early in the season, limiting the car's potential.

Source