Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British racing driver who competes in Formula One for Ferrari. He has won a joint-record seven Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles, tied with Michael Schumacher, and holds the records for most wins (105), pole positions (104), and podium finishes (202). Born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Hamilton is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time.
Lewis Hamilton Biography / Wiki
| Full Name | Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton |
| Date of Birth | January 7, 1985 |
| Age | 41 years (as of February 2026) |
| Birthplace | Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | Mixed-race (Afro-Grenadian and White British) |
| Occupation | Racing Driver, Producer |
| Current Team | Scuderia Ferrari (2025-present) |
| Car Number | 44 |
| Formula One Debut | 2007 Australian Grand Prix (McLaren) |
| World Championships | 7 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) |
| Career Race Wins | 105 (Record) |
| Pole Positions | 104 (Record) |
| Podium Finishes | 202 (Record) |
| Grand Prix Entered | 380 |
| Career Points | 5,018.5 |
| Fastest Laps | 68 |
| DNFs (Did Not Finish) | 34 |
| Teams | McLaren (2007-2012), Mercedes (2013-2024), Ferrari (2025-present) |
| Notable Records | Most wins, pole positions, and podiums in F1 history; First black F1 driver |
| 2026 Salary | $60 million per year (Ferrari) |
| Net Worth (2026) | $300 million |
| Relationship Status | Not married; reportedly dating Kim Kardashian (2026) |
| Father | Anthony Hamilton |
| Mother | Carmen Larbalestier |
| Siblings | Nicolas Hamilton (half-brother, racing driver), Samantha, Nicola (half-sisters) |
| Education | The John Henry Newman School, Stevenage; UCLA (entrepreneurship, briefly attended) |
| Honors | Knighted in 2021 New Year Honours |
| Production Company | Project 44 Productions |
| Charitable Foundation | Mission 44 |
| Clothing Brand | +44 |
Early Life
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton was born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. His father, Anthony Hamilton, is of Afro-Grenadian descent, while his mother, Carmen Larbalestier, is White British from Birmingham, making him mixed-race. Hamilton’s parents separated when he was two, after which he lived with his mother and older half-sisters, Samantha and Nicola, until he was twelve.
Hamilton then lived with his father, stepmother Linda, and his half-brother Nicolas, who is also a professional racing driver. He was raised a Catholic and attended The John Henry Newman School, a voluntary aided Catholic secondary school in Stevenage. Hamilton has said that at the age of five he took up karate to defend himself as a result of bullying at school.
Racing Beginnings
Hamilton’s father bought him a radio-controlled car when he was five, and he finished second in the national BRCA championship the following year against adult competition. Being the only black child racing at his club, Hamilton was subjected to racist abuse. Hamilton’s father bought him a go-kart for Christmas when he was six and promised to support his racing career as long as he worked hard at school.
To support his son, Hamilton’s father took redundancy from his position as an IT manager and became a contractor, sometimes working up to four jobs at a time including employment as a double glazing salesman, dishwasher, and putting up signs for estate agents. Hamilton began karting in 1993 and quickly began winning races and cadet class championships. Two years later, he became the youngest driver to win the British cadet karting championship at the age of ten.
Junior Career
In 1998, McLaren Formula One team boss Ron Dennis called Hamilton following his second Super One series and British championship wins to offer Hamilton a role in the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme. The contract included an option of a future Formula One seat, which would make Hamilton the youngest driver to secure a contract that later resulted in a Formula One drive. Hamilton became European Champion in 2000 with maximum points.
Hamilton began his car racing career in the 2001 British Formula Renault Winter Series, finishing fifth in the standings. He won the Formula Renault UK championship in 2003 in dominant fashion, registering 10 wins from 15 races. He dominated the 2005 Formula 3 Euro Series championship, winning 15 of the 20 rounds and securing 13 pole positions.
Hamilton moved to GP2 for the 2006 season and won the GP2 championship at his first attempt, beating Nelson Piquet Jr. He secured the title in unusual circumstances, inheriting the final point he needed after Giorgio Pantano was stripped of fastest lap in the Monza feature race.
Formula One Career Statistics
Hamilton made his Formula One debut with McLaren in 2007, becoming the first black driver to compete in the series. He won his first World Drivers’ Championship in 2008, becoming the then-youngest champion at age 23. He won six additional championships with Mercedes in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Hamilton holds multiple Formula One records including most career race wins (105), most pole positions (104), and most podium finishes (202). He secured his 100th pole position at the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix and his 100th race win at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, becoming the first driver to achieve either feat. He also holds the record for most wins at a single Grand Prix, with nine victories at the British Grand Prix.
McLaren Era (2007-2012)
Hamilton’s maiden season in 2007 saw him partner two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren. He finished runner-up in the championship to Kimi Räikkönen by one point, setting several records including the most consecutive podium finishes from debut (9). In 2008, Hamilton won his maiden title at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, overtaking Timo Glock for fifth-place at the final corners of the last lap.
Hamilton remained with McLaren until 2012, achieving multiple race wins each season despite the Red Bull-Renault combination dominating the period. In 2012, he achieved four race wins and a season-highest seven pole positions but finished fourth in the standings after encountering five retirements in the final ten races, three whilst leading. Prior to the end of the year, Hamilton announced he would be joining Mercedes for the 2013 season, ending a 15-year association with McLaren.
Mercedes Era (2013-2024)
Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 on a deal reportedly worth more than £60 million, reuniting with his childhood karting teammate Nico Rosberg. Changes to engine regulations for the 2014 season contributed to the start of a highly successful era, with Hamilton winning his second World Championship. He successfully defended his title in 2015, winning 10 races and scoring 11 pole positions in the first 12 races.
Hamilton won four consecutive World Championships from 2017 to 2020. In 2020, he dominated the season to win his seventh title, equalling Michael Schumacher’s record, and broke the record for all-time most wins at the Portuguese Grand Prix with his 92nd career victory. In 2021, Hamilton engaged in an intense title battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, ultimately losing the championship on the final lap of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 2022 and 2023 seasons marked the first consecutive winless campaigns of Hamilton’s career amidst Mercedes’s struggles with the ground-effect regulations. In 2024, his final season with Mercedes, Hamilton ended his 31-month winless drought with his ninth British Grand Prix victory and secured another win at the Belgian Grand Prix. He ended the season seventh in the championship, marking the end of the most successful driver-constructor partnership in Formula One history.
Ferrari Era (2025-Present)
Ferrari announced they had reached a multi-year agreement with Hamilton to join the team in 2025 on a contract reported to be worth £41 million per year, replacing Carlos Sainz Jr. Hamilton stated it had been a “childhood dream” to drive for Ferrari. His debut season with the team was marked by difficulties adapting to the car and fluctuating results.
Hamilton ended the 2025 season sixth in the championship, 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc, marking the first season of his career in which he did not secure at least one podium finish. He is reported to be contributing to the shaping of the team’s competitiveness ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, holding meetings with team leadership focusing on structural changes and car development. For the 2026 season, Hamilton’s salary is reported to be $60 million per year, making him the highest-paid driver in Ferrari’s history.
2026 Girlfriend
Lewis Hamilton is not married and his current relationship status in 2026 is not publicly confirmed. On February 1, 2026, The Sun newspaper reported that Hamilton is reportedly dating Kim Kardashian, with the reality TV star and Skims founder allegedly spending a weekend with Hamilton at an exclusive country club in the Cotswolds. No official comment has been made by either party regarding the relationship.
Hamilton’s longest and most famous relationship was with singer Nicole Scherzinger, whom he dated on and off between 2007 and 2015. He was most recently linked to Brazilian model Juliana Nalu in 2023, when she was spotted attending his Grand Prix race in Miami, though the pair quietly split shortly after. In early 2024, Hamilton was reportedly spotted on the celebrity dating app Raya.
Net Worth
Lewis Hamilton’s net worth in 2026 is estimated at $300 million, making him the wealthiest active Formula One driver. His Ferrari salary for 2026 is $60 million per year, making him the highest-paid driver in the team’s history. During his final seasons with Mercedes, his base salary was around $35 million, rising to $45 million in his 2023-2024 deal.
Hamilton’s income also includes major endorsements and business investments. His endorsement portfolio includes brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, IWC Schaffhausen, and Puma. He is also an investor in Neat Burger, a plant-based fast food chain, and has investments in technology, fashion, and film industries.
Hamilton has expanded his portfolio through legacy projects including Mission 44, his charitable foundation supporting young people, and his +44 clothing brand. He is also involved in an Apple-backed Formula One movie project alongside Brad Pitt.
Honors and Recognition
Hamilton was listed in the 2020 issue of Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people globally. He was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours, becoming Sir Lewis Hamilton. Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali described Hamilton as “a true giant of our sport” and stated that “his influence is huge both in and out of a car”.
Hamilton has been described as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time by experts including Chase Carey and Martin Brundle. In 2008, he became the first black driver to win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship. He has been credited with furthering Formula One’s global following by appealing to a broader audience outside the sport.
Personal Interests
Hamilton has become increasingly interested in his personal carbon footprint and environmental activism. He has also been involved in social activism, becoming a prominent advocate in support of racial justice and increased diversity in motorsport. Hamilton’s interests extend beyond racing to include fashion, music, and film.
Hamilton collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger to release his own designer clothing line in 2018. He has also been involved in the purchase of an NFL franchise. His Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has been vocal in his support for Hamilton’s off-track pursuits, explaining how freedom allows Hamilton to function at his best.