Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, born 7 January 1985, is a British Formula One racing driver who currently drives for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.
Hamilton has a joint-record seven World Drivers’ Championship titles in Formula One, tied with Michael Schumacher, and holds the records for most wins (103), pole positions (103), and podium finishes (191), among other things.
Early life and Education
Hamilton was born in Stevenage, England, his father, Anthony Hamilton, is black and of Grenadian heritage, while his mother, Carmen Larbalestier, is White British and from Birmingham.
His parents divorced when he was two, and he was raised by his mother and elder half-sisters, Samantha and Nicola until the age of twelve.
Hamilton then stayed with his father, stepmother Linda, and half-brother Nicolas, who is also a professional racing driver.
Hamilton was subjected to racist abuse as the only black child racing at his club.
When Hamilton was six years old, his father got him a go-kart for Christmas and vowed to support his racing career as long as he studied hard in school.
Hamilton attended The John Henry Newman School, a voluntary aided Catholic secondary school in Stevenage.
Career
Hamilton, who was born and raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, joined the McLaren young driver programme at the age of 13 in 1998, making him the youngest racing driver ever to be signed by a Formula One team.
This led to a six-year Formula One contract with McLaren from 2007 to 2012, making Hamilton the first-ever black driver to race in the series.
Hamilton began karting in 1993 and rapidly began winning races and cadet class titles.
Two years later, at the age of 10, he became the youngest driver to win the British cadet karting championship.
Hamilton’s first Formula One season saw him team up with two-time and defending World Champion Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton is the first and only black driver to compete in the series, as of 2022.
After finishing on the podium in his debut, Hamilton went on to set several records as he finished one point behind Kimi Räikkönen in the 2007 World Drivers’ Championship.
He also has the most consecutive podium finishes from debut (9), the joint most wins in a debut season (4), and the most points in a debut season (109).
Hamilton tied Schumacher’s mark with his seventh championship in 2020, while breaking his record for career F1 race victories (91) in the process.
Hamilton is widely considered one of the most versatile drivers on the grid, succeeding in a variety of disciplines.
He has been described as possessing an aggressive driving style, as well as a natural ability to determine the car’s limits.
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Personal life
Hamilton is known for his active involvement in charitable causes, including his own foundation, the Lewis Hamilton Foundation, which aims to support underprivileged children.
He is also a supporter of environmental causes and has been vocal about his concern for climate change.
Hamilton has been in a long-term relationship with singer Nicole Scherzinger, and he has been linked to several other high-profile figures, including models and actresses.
He has been open about his struggles with mental health and has spoken publicly about his experiences with depression and anxiety.
At the time of writing, Hamilton is 38 years old and continues to compete at the highest level of motorsport.
