Hamilton, Lewis (1985-…), is a champion English automobile racing driver. Hamilton drives Formula One cars, the most technologically advanced racing cars. Formula One drivers participate in Grand Prix races, where they compete to earn the most points in a year. In 2020, Hamilton tied with Michael Schumacher for the most career Formula One World Drivers’ Championships. Hamilton won the championship in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. He holds the records for most races won in a career and most career championship points. In September 2021, Hamilton became the first Formula One driver to win 100 career races.
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton was born on Jan. 7, 1985, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in southern England. He began his driving career in 1993 at the age of eight in kart racing . He progressed through various levels of kart and other forms of auto racing until he joined the Formula One circuit in 2007, driving for the McLaren Formula One team. He became the youngest driver to win a world championship in 2008, a mark broken two years later by Sebastian Vettel of Germany. Hamilton drove for McLaren through 2012 and then moved to the Mercedes Formula One team in 2013.
Hamilton’s first Formula One race was the 2007 Australian Grand Prix. His first victory was the Canadian Grand Prix that same year. In his rookie season, Hamilton finished one point behind Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen for the Formula One championship. Hamilton won four races in 2007 and set a record for rookies by finishing third or higher in his first nine races. He also set a record of 109 points in a rookie season. Points are awarded based on how high a driver finishes in a race. In 2021, Hamilton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his achievements.
