A seven-time World Champion. The most wins, pole positions, and podium finishes in Formula One history. An environmentalist, social activist, fashion designer, musician, and a force for global change in combating racism and pushing for increased diversity in motorsport.
There are many sides to Sir Lewis Hamilton. Few sportspeople have had the impact that he has had not only in his own sport but beyond, and at 39 he is still hungry to achieve and deliver more.
Lewis Hamilton
Driver
7
World Drivers' Championships
105
Wins
104
Pole Positions
201
Podiums
67
Fastest Laps
44
Lewis' Milestones
1985
Lewis was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire on the 7 January 1985 – to Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier.
1993
After being bought his first go-kart by his Dad, Lewis starts karting competitively and collects multiple race wins across different British cadet races and championships.
1997
The early success catches the attention of those at the top of the sport, and the journey to Formula One takes another step forward as Lewis joins the McLaren Mercedes Young Driver Programme. On track, he wins the Super 1 National Championship in the more senior Formula Yamaha class.
2006
Fourteen podiums, five of them wins, see Lewis crowned GP2 champion at the first attempt. Standout performances include a drive through the field from P19 on lap one to P2 in Turkey, and a clean sweep at home at Silverstone. A fantastic season that earns him a seat in F1 for the following season.
2008
A first F1 Drivers’ Championship is claimed in dramatic style at the final race of the year, to become one of the sport’s youngest champions. Five wins are enough to help seal glory, the highlight of which comes at Silverstone, as Lewis finishes nearly 70 seconds clear of the field in front of his home crowd.
2013
Following six years at McLaren, Lewis moves to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team – a move that is questioned up and down the paddock. He, alongside the Team, quickly get to work and score his first race win for the Team in Hungary. Five pole positions and a string of solid results help to secure P4 in the Drivers’ and P2 in the Constructors’ Championship.
2014
A season-long duel with teammate Nico Rosberg is decided in Abu Dhabi and ends in the capture of World Championship number two in the first season of the sport’s new hybrid era, as Mercedes also clinches its first Constructors’ Championship. Lewis also wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year for the first time too.
2018
Off the track Lewis launches his first fashion line, Lewis x Tommy, with Tommy Hilfiger. On it, he becomes a five-time world champion, fending off the challenge of Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel. His win from 14th on the grid in Germany remains the furthest back he has ever won a Grand Prix from. The title drew him level with Juan Manuel Fangio for most F1 championships.
2020
Lewis writes further F1 history by equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven F1 titles and in the process breaks the record for most race wins in the sport at the Portuguese Grand Prix. In a year quite like any other in the world, he strengthens his stature as a voice for equality in the sport. At the end of the season, the Team launch its Accelerate 25 initiative aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in motorsport.
2021
Continuing his push to change the motorsport landscape, Lewis sets up Mission44, the charitable Foundation aimed at transforming the lives of young people from underserved communities to ultimately help build a fairer society.
At the end of the year, Lewis receives a knighthood. His mother Carmen attends the ceremony at Windsor Castle with her son, the fourth F1 driver in history to receive the prestigious accolade.
At the end of the year, Lewis receives a knighthood. His mother Carmen attends the ceremony at Windsor Castle with her son, the fourth F1 driver in history to receive the prestigious accolade.
2022
One year on from his epic victory at Interlagos, Lewis attended a special ceremony at the Chamber of Deputies in Brasilia, where he receives honorary citizenship of Brasil. “I really want to dedicate today, this honour, to Ayrton Senna – to Ayrton’s family, to his friends and to his fans. I really do feel like I am one of you now,” said Lewis following the ceremony.
2024
Lewis wins an historic ninth British Grand Prix, marking his place in yet more history books.
Conditions judged to perfection on track, strategy calls timed to perfection in the pit lane. Lewis’ record-breaking win at the British Grand Prix was achieved on pure pace and speed.
Conditions judged to perfection on track, strategy calls timed to perfection in the pit lane. Lewis’ record-breaking win at the British Grand Prix was achieved on pure pace and speed.
Lewis' Mercedes Career History
2013
Formula One
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
4th
2014
Formula One
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
Champion
2015
Formula One
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
Champion
2016
Formula One
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
P2
2017
Formula One
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport
Champion
2018
Formula One
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport
Champion
Lewis' Helmets
The helmet is a crucial safety feature for a Formula One driver. But it’s also an important way to express themselves in the design and colours they choose – making them stand out from the rest of the grid and be instantly recognisable to the fans. Scroll through some of Lewis' most iconic designs to see how his style has evolved through his years with Mercedes.
2023
An evolution of his 2022 design, Lewis’ 2023 helmet keeps the yellow and purple of the previous year, while adding some extra flourishes like Brasilian-inspired green tinted championship stars and a bold rainbow across the top as he continues to show support for the LGBQT+ community.
2013
Lewis’ first helmet after joining the team retained his classic yellow look while modernising the red, blue, and green ribbon design he has used since he was karting. A vibrant colour scheme that looked right at home in the cockpit of his first Silver Arrow.
2014
A brand-new colour scheme for Lewis to mark the start of a new era in Formula 1. Lewis debuted a pearl white and red design for the helmet that he would wear as he won his second F1 title. Lewis’ now iconic motto ‘Still I Rise’ appeared on the back of his helmet for the very first time.
2017
Lewis went back to his classic yellow for 2017 as he fought his way to his fourth F1 title. It was in this helmet that Lewis surpassed his hero Ayrton Senna’s tally of 65 pole positions in Canada before breaking the all-time record held by Michael Schumacher in Monza just a few races later.
2018Abu Dhabi
A golden helmet to crown another golden season. Lewis rounded out his fifth title winning year in style in Abu Dhabi with this awesome design.
2019
Lewis switched up his helmet colours again for the 2019 season, racing this bold red and white design on the way to his sixth F1 title.
2019Danke Niki
A fitting tribute, Lewis’ Monaco helmet was a salute to his dear friend Niki Lauda. Based on the Austrian’s iconic red and white look from his own racing career, the design inspired Lewis to a famous victory around the streets of Monte Carlo, held just days after Niki’s passing.
2020
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Lewis switched to a new purple design for 2020, a year in which he dominated the field to win his record-equalling seventh F1 title.
2021
Chasing history in purple. Lewis raced this refined purple and silver design as he battled Max Verstappen for the 2021 Formula 1 world title.
2021Brasil
A special design for a very special weekend. Lewis charged from last to first to claim a famous victory at Interlagos in this design featuring the green and yellow of Brasil and Ayrton Senna.
2021Love is Love
Striking and powerful, this design first appeared at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix and was front and centre as Lewis battled for his eighth F1 world title. A sign of Lewis’ passion and desire to raise awareness for injustices around the world, the rainbow would be carried on into Lewis’ future designs.
2022
Yellow was back in for 2022, but with a neon twist, as Lewis added his original helmet colour to the now well-established purple design. Yellow car numbers completed the look for LH that season.
2023
An evolution of his 2022 design, Lewis’ 2023 helmet keeps the yellow and purple of the previous year, while adding some extra flourishes like Brasilian-inspired green tinted championship stars and a bold rainbow across the top as he continues to show support for the LGBQT+ community.
2013
Lewis’ first helmet after joining the team retained his classic yellow look while modernising the red, blue, and green ribbon design he has used since he was karting. A vibrant colour scheme that looked right at home in the cockpit of his first Silver Arrow.
2014
A brand-new colour scheme for Lewis to mark the start of a new era in Formula 1. Lewis debuted a pearl white and red design for the helmet that he would wear as he won his second F1 title. Lewis’ now iconic motto ‘Still I Rise’ appeared on the back of his helmet for the very first time.
2017
Lewis went back to his classic yellow for 2017 as he fought his way to his fourth F1 title. It was in this helmet that Lewis surpassed his hero Ayrton Senna’s tally of 65 pole positions in Canada before breaking the all-time record held by Michael Schumacher in Monza just a few races later.
2018Abu Dhabi
A golden helmet to crown another golden season. Lewis rounded out his fifth title winning year in style in Abu Dhabi with this awesome design.
2019
Lewis switched up his helmet colours again for the 2019 season, racing this bold red and white design on the way to his sixth F1 title.
2019Danke Niki
A fitting tribute, Lewis’ Monaco helmet was a salute to his dear friend Niki Lauda. Based on the Austrian’s iconic red and white look from his own racing career, the design inspired Lewis to a famous victory around the streets of Monte Carlo, held just days after Niki’s passing.
2020
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Lewis switched to a new purple design for 2020, a year in which he dominated the field to win his record-equalling seventh F1 title.
2021
Chasing history in purple. Lewis raced this refined purple and silver design as he battled Max Verstappen for the 2021 Formula 1 world title.
2021Brasil
A special design for a very special weekend. Lewis charged from last to first to claim a famous victory at Interlagos in this design featuring the green and yellow of Brasil and Ayrton Senna.
2021Love is Love
Striking and powerful, this design first appeared at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix and was front and centre as Lewis battled for his eighth F1 world title. A sign of Lewis’ passion and desire to raise awareness for injustices around the world, the rainbow would be carried on into Lewis’ future designs.
2022
Yellow was back in for 2022, but with a neon twist, as Lewis added his original helmet colour to the now well-established purple design. Yellow car numbers completed the look for LH that season.
2023
An evolution of his 2022 design, Lewis’ 2023 helmet keeps the yellow and purple of the previous year, while adding some extra flourishes like Brasilian-inspired green tinted championship stars and a bold rainbow across the top as he continues to show support for the LGBQT+ community.
“
I feel calm, I feel energised, and my focus is sharpened. ”
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis' Favourite Track
Silverstone Circuit
Great Britain
"My favourite track is my home race: Silverstone. It’s a circuit that has so much history. You feel it whenever you go there, all the great drivers that have raced there. Coupled with that, the layout is just incredible. It’s all high speed and medium speed corners so a real challenge.
It’s the ultimate test of probably all of the tracks we race at. The ultimate challenge for the downforce of the car. It has some of the coolest sections of track anywhere in the world: Copse, Maggotts, Becketts, Stowe…I could go on! That whole combination leaves me lost for words. I don’t think there are many tracks in the world that have a better combination of corners."
Lewis on Instagram
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Shop the Lewis Hamilton Collection
The official Lewis Team merchandise, including caps, t-shirts, jackets, special edition collections and collectibles.