Lewis Hamilton

Sir Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver widely regarded as one of the greatest in Formula 1 history. Born in Stevenage in 1985, he rose through karting under McLaren and Mercedes backing, won the GP2 title in 2006, and stepped straight into a McLaren race seat for 2007. He is a seven-time World Champion whose 106 Grand Prix victories are the most of any driver in the sport, and his record of 104 pole positions stands as another all-time benchmark.

Hamilton announced himself instantly, finishing runner-up by a single point as a rookie in 2007 before claiming his maiden title in 2008. After several lean McLaren years he made a defining move to Mercedes for 2013, a gamble that paid off spectacularly as the team's hybrid-era dominance delivered titles in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, matching Michael Schumacher's then-record of seven championships. He came agonisingly close to a record eighth in 2021, losing out to Max Verstappen on the final lap in Abu Dhabi.

For 2026 Hamilton is in his second season with Ferrari, the team he joined in 2025 in one of the biggest transfers in motorsport history. Partnered with Charles Leclerc, he sits second in the championship after eleven rounds with 169 points and a single win to his name, the maiden Ferrari victory he scored in Barcelona, since backed up by a run of podiums and a fifth place at the Hungaroring as Ferrari press Mercedes at the top of the standings.

Hamilton combines blistering one-lap pace with exceptional racecraft, tyre management and wet-weather mastery, qualities that have made him a relentless front-runner for nearly two decades. Beyond the cockpit he has used his platform to champion diversity and sustainability in motorsport. As the sport's most successful race winner and a Ferrari driver in the twilight of an extraordinary career, his legacy as a generational talent is already secure.