Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Ferrari. Throughout his illustrious career, he has achieved numerous records and accolades, including a joint-record seven World Drivers' Championship titles, tied with Michael Schumacher, and holds the records for the most wins, pole positions, and podium finishes in the sport.
Born and raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Hamilton began his journey in the world of motorsports by joining the McLaren young driver programme in 1998. This led to a Formula One drive with McLaren from 2007 to 2012, making him the first and, to date, only black driver to participate in the series.
Hamilton's inaugural season with McLaren saw him set numerous records, ultimately finishing runner-up to Kimi Räikkönen by a single point. The following season, he secured his maiden title in dramatic fashion, making a crucial overtake on the last lap of the last race of the season, thereby becoming the youngest Formula One World Champion in history.
After six years with McLaren, Hamilton signed with Mercedes in 2013, marking the beginning of a highly successful period in his career. The introduction of turbo-hybrid engines in 2014 led to a surge in his performances, during which he won six further drivers' titles. Consecutive titles came in 2014 and 2015, amidst an intense rivalry with teammate Nico Rosberg.
Following Rosberg's retirement, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel emerged as Hamilton's closest rival, with the two drivers engaging in two intense championship battles. Hamilton ultimately emerged victorious, claiming consecutive titles again in 2017 and 2018. His third and fourth consecutive titles followed in 2019 and 2020, thereby equaling Schumacher's record of seven drivers' titles.
In December 2020, Hamilton publicly confronted Bahrain's human rights abuses, speaking out on the allegations of sportswashing. His actions were prompted by an 11-year-old boy, Ahmed Ramadhan, who wrote a heartfelt letter to Hamilton, pleading for his help in saving his father, who was facing the death penalty after a confession was allegedly extracted through torture.
Hamilton's significant contributions and influence have been consistently recognized through his ranking in the Powerlist, an annual list of the most influential Black Britons. In 2021, he was named the most influential Black Briton, acknowledging his sporting achievements and advocacy in the Black Lives Matter movement. Additionally, he was listed as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people globally in 2020 and was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours for his services to motorsports.
In conclusion, Sir Lewis Hamilton is an absolute legend in Formula One history and a global icon, having made a lasting impact on the world of motorsports and beyond.
