Portrait · Liauzh; crop by Mb2437 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Lewis Hamilton

Formula One driver, producer and philanthropist

Born 1985

Sir Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver, producer and philanthropist whose seven Formula One world championships, 106 Grand Prix victories and 104 pole positions place him among the sport's defining competitors. Born in Stevenage, Hamilton began karting at eight with his father Anthony managing and financing the early campaign, approached McLaren principal Ron Dennis as a child, and entered the McLaren-Mercedes young-driver programme in 1998. Titles in Formula Renault UK, the Formula 3 Euro Series and GP2 preceded a record-setting 2007 Formula One debut in which he won four races and finished one point short of the championship. He became the sport's then-youngest champion in 2008, moved from McLaren to Mercedes for 2013 and built the most successful driver-team partnership of the hybrid era: six further drivers' titles, an unprecedented run of victories and pole positions, and a sustained rivalry with team-mates and champions including Nico Rosberg and Max Verstappen. Hamilton used his visibility to press Formula One on racial equality, funded the Hamilton Commission's research into Black representation in UK motorsport and founded Mission 44 to widen access to education and technical careers. His creative work spans fashion, music and film; through Dawn Apollo Films he produced F1: The Movie, which was filmed around real Grand Prix weekends. In 2025 he began a new chapter with Ferrari, won the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint in his second weekend for the team and endured a first season without a Sunday podium. His second Ferrari campaign brought five podiums and a maiden Scuderia Grand Prix victory at Barcelona-Catalunya by September 2026, when Formula One listed him third in the championship with 191 points after 14 completed Grands Prix, before the Azerbaijan race. Away from the track, his interviews document a long-running plant-based diet, varied endurance and combat-sport training, an expansive love of music and a close bond with his late bulldog Roscoe. He was appointed MBE in 2009, made a Knight Bachelor for services to motorsport in the 2021 New Year Honours, twice voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year and named joint Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in 2020.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionAnthony HamiltonFather and early manager who financed and supported Hamilton's karting path.

ConnectionNicolas HamiltonYounger half-brother and racing driver whose career and resilience Hamilton has discussed publicly.

ConnectionRon DennisMcLaren principal who brought Hamilton into the team's young-driver programme and later gave him his Formula One debut.

Official records · wins and honours

Awards & Honours

Selected recognition linked to the awarding organisation or primary record.

2021
United Kingdom HonoursIndustry honor
Knight Bachelor for services to motorsport
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2020
Formula OneCompetitive win
World Drivers' Champion
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2020
Laureus World Sports AwardsCompetitive win
World Sportsman of the Year (shared with Lionel Messi)
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2020
BBCCompetitive win
Sports Personality of the Year
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2019
Formula OneCompetitive win
World Drivers' Champion
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2018
Formula OneCompetitive win
World Drivers' Champion
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2017
Formula OneCompetitive win
World Drivers' Champion
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2015
Formula OneCompetitive win
World Drivers' Champion
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2014
Formula OneCompetitive win
World Drivers' Champion
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2014
BBCCompetitive win
Sports Personality of the Year
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2009
United Kingdom HonoursIndustry honor
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2008
Formula OneCompetitive win
World Drivers' Champion
Lewis Hamilton
Official record
2008
Laureus World Sports AwardsCompetitive win
World Breakthrough of the Year
Lewis Hamilton
Official record

Knight Bachelor for services to motorsport

World Drivers' Champion

World Sportsman of the Year (shared with Lionel Messi)

Sports Personality of the Year

World Drivers' Champion

World Drivers' Champion

World Drivers' Champion

World Drivers' Champion

World Drivers' Champion

Sports Personality of the Year

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

World Drivers' Champion

World Breakthrough of the Year