Lewis Hamilton: The tale of a modern-day F1 great

From a young karting prodigy to a seven-time Formula 1 world champion, the journey of Lewis Hamilton in the motor sport is one for the history books. Born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, England, Hamilton was introduced to racing at the age of eight. His rise was meteoric, backed by McLaren and Mercedes through their young driver program, a support structure that saw him become the first Black driver in F1 history when he debuted with McLaren in 2007.

The onset of the Lewis Hamilton era in F1

Debuting in F1, Lewis Hamilton made an instant impact. He scored a podium in his very first race in Australia and finished just one point behind the world champion in his debut season. In 2008, he clinched his first world title at the Brazilian Grand Prix, becoming the then-youngest F1 champion and the first Black driver to win a Formula 1 World Championship.

After joining Mercedes in 2013, Hamilton transformed into a dominant force. He won six more world titles, in a historic streak from 2014 to 2020. The winning spree propelled Hamilton at par with the F1 great Michael Schumacher. With the unmatched run at the F1 World Championship, Hamilton mimicked the record of Michael Schumacher by winning seven championships. With 103 career wins and over 190 podium finishes, Hamilton holds the record for the most race victories, pole positions, and podium finishes in F1 history.

Beyond the racetrack, Hamilton is admired for his outspoken stance on social issues. A staunch advocate for racial equality, environmental awareness, and diversity in motorsport, he has used his platform to push for change, launching the Hamilton Commission to improve representation of Black people in UK motorsport. Recent seasons have tested his resilience. After narrowly missing out on a record-breaking eighth world title in the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton endured a tough 2022 and 2023 with a struggling Mercedes garage.

2025 F1 season and the transition to Scuderia Ferrari for Hamilton

In the ongoing 2025 season, Lewis Hamilton has joined the Scuderia Ferrari side. The F1 great replaced Carlos Sainz as he now partners Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari team. Leclerc brought the first podium finish for Ferrari at the recently concluded Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, Hamilton remains in the quest to find his rhythm with his new team. Though Hamilton remains in the search for his eighth title, his run at the F1 tracks has already placed him in the ranks of the greats in the sport.