He's not afraid to take risks. [151] Despite receiving plaudits from experts and fans in and out of the sport, Hamilton has been a divisive figure in the eyes of the general public, with some journalists arguing his exploits on the track have been under-appreciated. [192] McLaren denied favouring Alonso, and the FIA subsequently vindicated the team, stating that "McLaren were able to pursue an optimum team strategy because they had a substantial advantage over all other cars nothing which could be described as interfering with the race result. 1955 J. M. Fangio [85], Having signed a contract with Mercedes that lasted until 2020, it was confirmed Hamilton would defend his title in 2019. He was born on the 7th of January, 1985, in Stevenage, United Kingdom. 1966 J. Brabham In 2015, he collaborated with Bose & Spinz Beats Inc to create his F1 soundtrack, which he released in September that year. [386], Hamilton moved to Luins, Vaud, Switzerland in 2007, citing privacy as his main reason for leaving the UK. Ron Dennis (pictured below with Hamilton at the time of introduction) was stunned by the confidence with which Hamilton exuded and foresaw a bright future in the lad. [32][33] Two years later, he became the youngest driver to win the British cadet karting championship at the age of ten. His former home sold for 540,000 in February 2012 and today its estimated value is 880,000, according to. Following his karting successes, the British Racing Drivers' Club made him a "Rising Star" Member in 2000. [445], 1950 G. Farina [228] In 2019, footballer Rio Ferdinand described media scrutiny of Hamilton as having "racist undertones" and contrasted Hamilton's treatment to that of fellow British driver Jenson Button. He also spoke with Bahraini officials about the country's human rights. He later said on the television show Parkinson that taxation was also a factor in his decision. He has cerebral palsy and has a specially designed car he uses for his races because of his condition. FACT CHECK:Thanks for reading our Lewis HamiltonChildhood Story, plus untold biography facts. [62], Hamilton's first season in Formula One saw him partner two-time and defending World Champion Fernando Alonso. 2006 L. Hamilton [212] After three years of Mercedes' dominance from 2014 to 2016, Ferrari produced a car that was capable of fighting for the championship in 2017 and 2018. 2006 F. Alonso Stevenage is quite nice actually. Not all the champions can say that. Hamilton's apartment comes with 4 bathrooms, a steam room and a 300 sq ft sun terrace. [49] Hamilton eventually re-signed with McLaren. 1997 J. Villeneuve F1 champion Lewis Hamilton caused a mini furore in his home town of Stevenage this week when he suggested it may have been a slum when he was growing up. 1957 J. M. Fangio [284], Over the past decade, Hamilton has made time for a variety of good causes, such as making hospital visits to sick children. In 2020, the case was heard before the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). They, however, got divorced two years after Lewis birth. [263] The money went towards the fire services and animal welfare charities. [179] The winning design used a white and yellow base colour with red and orange details, and the addition of three stars, one for each of Hamilton's three Formula One championships at that time, on either side. [118][119] Ross Brawn wrote that "over the course of [2018], Hamilton hardly put a foot wrong, winning not only the races he should have, but also some where the opposition was stronger, and that is the true mark of a champion. Teams and drivers that will compete in the, List of Formula One Grand Prix wins by Lewis Hamilton, most consecutive podium finishes from debut, at least one race in fifteen consecutive seasons, Laureus Athlete Advocate of the Year Award, BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, European Union Intellectual Property Office, List of career achievements by Lewis Hamilton Records, Formula One World Constructors' Championship, FIA Pole Trophy/Pirelli Pole Position Award, List of career achievements by Lewis Hamilton Awards, Hamilton has received several awards and honors, Member of the Order of the British Empire, "Hamilton signs new two-year contract with Mercedes", "World champion Hamilton runs number 1 on his Mercedes in Abu Dhabi", "Lewis Hamilton sports #1 during Abu Dhabi GP FP1", "The 10 best Formula 1 drivers ever: Hamilton, Senna & more", "Here are the 10 best ever Formula 1 drivers", "Anthony Hamilton's massive support makes parting with Lewis easier to understand", "Being F1's first black driver is important", "Lewis Hamilton admits: 'I just don't know how I kept my cool', "BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 in Four - Race to the top: Lewis Hamilton", "Lewis Hamilton: I had a lot of bullying and racism at school", "Challenger, champion, change-maker: The real Lewis Hamilton story", "Lewis Hamilton signs with Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment", "Words from Lewis Hamilton's father inspired Hungarian Grand Prix pace, says Wolff | Formula 1", "Lewis Hamilton: 'Everything I'd suppressed came up I had to speak out', "Lewis Hamilton: I could have been a footballer", "Lewis Hamilton's karting days have helped him become one of F1's best drivers", "Teams target the next generation of stars", "Schumacher Tips Hamilton for Future Glory", "British Formula 3 Championship 2003 standings", "Lewis Hamilton biography and information", "Nurburgring 2006: Hamilton beats penalty and rest", "Istanbul 2006: Zuber win overshadowed by Hamilton", "Hamilton's F1 drive is a dream come true", "Grenadian roots of first black F1 driver", "Formula One's first black driver to take his place on grid", "Lewis Hamilton: The Tiger Woods of Racing? I just think for him, hes a young driver and is going to be learning all the time, hes got fantastic pace but, as youngsters, we do not always make the right decisions. Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance. [14] Hamilton then lived with his father, stepmother Linda, and his half-brother Nicolas, who is also a professional racing driver. "[236] In 2018, Hamilton criticised the lack of diversity in Formula One, describing how nothing had changed in his eleven years in the sport before saying: "Kids, people, there are so many jobs in this sport of which anybody, no matter your ethnicity or background, can make it and fit in."[237][238]. In his inaugural season, Hamilton set numerous records as he finished runner-up to Kimi Rikknen by one point. Following a successful first season at McLaren, Hamilton signed a multi-million-pound contract to stay with the team until 2012. It begins from his early days, to when he became famous with Formula One. He has always been supportive of his sons ambition and career as a car racer. May 25, 2022 . [227], Hamilton's treatment by the media and critics has, at times, been criticised as being racist. [185], Hamilton has also used one-off helmet designs to pay tribute to influential figures in his career. [157][154] Between race weekends Hamilton has on several occasions travelled around the world to explore a variety of interests, such as in 2018 where, after winning the Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton flew to Shanghai and New York where he released his own designer clothing line with Tommy Hilfiger, before flying immediately back to, and winning, the next race in Singapore. 44 from 2014. 2007 T. Glock Hamilton was 'bullied and beaten' as a kid. [53] Hamilton won the GP2 championship at his first attempt, beating Nelson Piquet Jr. and Timo Glock. The winnings did not only earn him local popularity but influenced his decision to major in racing as against football, a sport he actively participated in at the John Henry Newman School with hopes of becoming a professional. Lewis at the age of twelve started living with her and his half-brother after he left his mums place. [295][296][297] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamilton's Neat Burger restaurant donated free meals to frontline NHS workers. Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton MBE HonFREng (born 7 January 1985) is a British racing driver currently competing in Formula One, driving for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. Subsequent racing competitions saw him rise through FormulaThreee, GP2, and kicked started his Formula One career with McLaren in 2007, finishing second in his debut season and winning the title the next season. It's good to see the world champion taking time off from racing to get in touch with his childhood. [300][301], Hamilton often donates personal and professional paraphernalia for charity auctions. [63][64][65] After finishing on the podium in his debut, Hamilton went on to set several records as he finished runner-up in the 2007 World Drivers' Championship to Kimi Rikknen by one point, including those for 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). In the history of the sport, Hamilton is the only driverto win at least one race in every seasonthat he has competed in. [249], Building on the recommendations of the Hamilton Commission, Hamilton launched Mission 44, a charitable foundation created to help young people from under-represented backgrounds achieve their ambitions in wider society, in July 2021. His Lifestyle, Net Worth and Personal Life. After six years with McLaren, Hamilton signed with Mercedes in 2013. At the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix, he wore a special helmet in tribute to Ayrton Senna which was auctioned after the race in aid of the Ayrton Senna Foundation. . According to then McLaren executive and future CEO Martin Whitmarsh, who was responsible for guiding Hamilton through the team's young driver programme, he and Anthony Hamilton had a "huge row" at the end of the season, with Lewis' father pushing for him to move up to GP2 for 2005, while Whitmarsh felt that he should remain in F3 for a second season, culminating in Whitmarsh tearing up Lewis' contract; however, Lewis called Whitmarsh six weeks later and re-signed with the team. [117] Pedro de la Rosa, a former test driver for McLaren who worked with Hamilton and Alonso, rated the pair as the best he had seen first hand, stating that they shared a strength in terms of "how much speed they can run into the apex [of a corner] and still have a decent exit speed", highlighting in particular their ability to maintain this speed when their rear tyres have lost grip during a longer stint. [31], Hamilton began karting in 1993 and quickly began winning races and cadet class championships. Consequently, he ensured that the racing prodigy enjoyed the support of the McLaren team, which in 2001 offered him the opportunity to take a significant step in his racing career by competing in Formula Renault. Office ( EUIPO ) successes, the case was heard before the European Union Intellectual Property Office ( ). Donates personal and professional paraphernalia for charity auctions for 540,000 in February 2012 and its. 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