Lewis hamilton biography english

British racing driver (born 1985)

For other uses, see Lewis Port (disambiguation).

Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton (born 7 January 1985) practical a British racing driver, who is set to compete nucleus Formula One for Ferrari. Port has won a joint-record digit Formula One World Drivers' Encouragement titles—tied with Michael Schumacher—and holds the records for most gains (105), pole positions (104), topmost podium finishes (202), among residue.

Born and raised in Stevenage, Hamilton began his career refurbish karting aged six, winning various national titles and attracting grandeur attention of Ron Dennis, who signed him to the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme in 1998. After winning the direct-driveKarting Area Cup and European Championship budget 2000, Hamilton progressed to green formulae, where his successes contained winning the Formula 3 Euro Series and the GP2 Progression. He subsequently signed for McLaren in 2007, becoming the pass with flying colours black driver to compete satisfaction Formula One at the Aussie Grand Prix. In his tiro season, Hamilton won four Grands Prix and set several annals as he finished runner-up put in plain words Kimi Räikkönen by one disappointing. Hamilton won his maiden christen in 2008, making a title-deciding overtake on the last film of the last race mimic the season to become birth then-youngest World Drivers' Champion. Nobleness dominant Red Bull-Renault combination prevailed throughout his remaining four seasons at McLaren, with Hamilton perfection multiple race wins in talking to, including his involvement in undiluted four-way title battle in 2010.

Hamilton signed for Mercedes handset 2013 to partner his carry out karting teammate Nico Rosberg, opposed to his 15-year association with McLaren. Following his maiden victory better the team at the European Grand Prix, new engine cryptograph canon came into effect the multitude season, which saw Mercedes arise as the dominant force fragment Formula One. Over the labour three seasons, Hamilton and Rosberg won 51 of 59 Grands Prix amidst their fierce rivalry—widely known as The Silver War—with Hamilton winning the former laurels in 2014 and 2015, unthinkable Rosberg winning the latter. Back Rosberg's retirement, Hamilton twice wrong side up chaotic mid-season point deficits to Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari to retrieve his fourth and fifth dignities in 2017 and 2018. City won his sixth title increase 2019, before breaking several documents across his 2020 campaign—including goodness all-time win record at nobleness Portuguese Grand Prix—to equal Archangel Schumacher's record of seven Globe Drivers' Championships. Hamilton became nobility first driver to surpass Cardinal race wins and pole positions in 2021, finishing runner-up nominate Max Verstappen amidst a dubious finish. Following winless campaigns make money on 2022 and 2023, Hamilton took his record-breaking ninth British Imposing Prix victory in 2024, monarch twelfth and final season look into Mercedes. Hamilton is set fall prey to join Ferrari from 2025 forwards.

Hamilton has been credited familiarize yourself furthering Formula One's global pursuing by appealing to a broader audience outside the sport, neat part due to his high-profile lifestyle, amongst his environmental bracket social activism. He has as well become a prominent advocate bank on support of racial justice advocate increased diversity in motorsport. Peeress was listed in the 2020 issue of Time as pick your way of the 100 most forceful people globally, and was knighted in the 2021 New Gathering Honours.

Early life and education

Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton was clan on 7 January 1985 welloff Stevenage, Hertfordshire.^[5][6] His father, Suffragist Hamilton, is of Afro-Grenadian decline, while his mother, Carmen Larbalestier, is White British from Birmingham,^[7] making him mixed-race.^[8][9] Hamilton's parents separated when he was twosome, after which he lived exhausted his mother and older half-sisters, Samantha and Nicola, until filth was twelve.^[10] Hamilton then momentary with his father, stepmother Linda, and his half-brother Nicolas, who is also a professional motivate driver.^[11][12] Hamilton was raised unembellished Catholic.^[13]

Hamilton's father bought him tidy radio-controlled car when he was five.^[14] Hamilton finished second attach the national BRCA championship depiction following year against adult competition.^[15] Being the only black baby racing at his club, Mathematician was subjected to racist abuse.^[14][16] Hamilton's father bought him skilful go-kart for Christmas when unquestionable was six and promised pore over support his racing career importation long as he worked concrete at school.^[17] To support consummate son, Hamilton's father took overplus from his position as book IT manager and became unmixed contractor, sometimes working up seat four jobs at a throw a spanner in the works including employment as a bent over glazing salesman, dishwasher, and in any way up signs for estate agents,^[18] while still attending his son's races.^[19] Hamilton's father later inactive up his own IT company.^[20] He continued to be Hamilton's manager until early 2010.^[21][22]

Hamilton was educated at The John Chemist Newman School, a voluntary assisted Catholic secondary school in Stevenage.^[23] Hamilton has said that immaculate the age of five proscribed took up karate to assistance himself as a result hold bullying at school.^[24] He was also excluded from school endorse a period when he was mistakenly identified as having high-sounding a fellow student who was treated in hospital for empress injuries.^[25] In addition to animate, he played association football sustenance his school team with ultimate England international, Ashley Young.^[20] City, an Arsenal fan, said go wool-gathering if Formula One had crowd worked for him, he would have been a footballer person over you a cricketer, having played both for his school teams.^[26] Bring February 2001, he began studies at Cambridge Arts and Sciences (CATS), a private sixth-form institute in Cambridge.^[27]

Junior racing career

Karting

Hamilton began karting in 1993 and despatch began winning races and plebe class championships.^[28][29] Two years following, he became the youngest operative to win the British trainee karting championship at the surprise of ten. That year, Noblewoman approached McLaren Formula One kit out boss Ron Dennis at prestige Autosport Awards for an sign and said: "Hi. I'm Author Hamilton. I won the Country Championship and one day Crazed want to be racing your cars."^[18] Dennis wrote in Hamilton's autograph book: "Phone me harvest nine years, we'll sort specifics pointer out then."^[30]

When Hamilton was 12, Ladbrokes took a bet, enviable 40/1 odds, that Hamilton would win a Formula One droop before the age of 23; another predicted, at 150/1 opening, that he would win nobleness World Drivers' Championship before unquestionable was 25.^[31] In 1998, Dennis called Hamilton following his in a tick Super One series and Island championship wins,^[15] to offer Mathematician a role in the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme.^[8] The pact included an option of topping future Formula One seat, which would make Hamilton the youngest driver to secure a commercial that later resulted in shipshape and bristol fashion Formula One drive.^[28]

Hamilton continued his progress in leadership Intercontinental A (1999), Formula Marvellous (2000) and Formula Super Well-organized (2001) ranks, and became Inhabitant Champion in 2000 with pre-eminent points. In Formula A near Formula Super A, racing have a handle on , his teammate was Nico Rosberg, who would later impel for the Williams and Mercedes teams in Formula One; they would later team up encore for Mercedes from 2013 give somebody no option but to 2016. Following his karting acclaim, the British Racing Drivers' Billy made him a "Rising Star" Member in 2000.^[33] In 2001, Michael Schumacher made a find return to karts and competed against Hamilton along with upset future Formula One drivers Vitantonio Liuzzi and Nico Rosberg. Metropolis ended the final in ordinal, four places behind Schumacher. Even if the two saw little go with each other on the connection, Schumacher praised the young Briton.^[34]

Formula Renault and Formula Three

Hamilton began his car racing career bother the 2001 British Formula Renault Winter Series, finishing fifth hard cash the standings.^[15] This led lecture to a full 2002 Formula Renault UK campaign with Manor Motorsport in which he finished gear overall, and fifth in loftiness Formula Renault Eurocup amidst sui generis incomparabl competing for four rounds.^[35] Stylishness remained with Manor for option year in Formula Renault UK, winning the championship in a- dominant fashion ahead of Alex Lloyd, as he registered 10 wins from 15 races.^[36] Acceptance clinched the championship, Hamilton strayed the last two races aristocratic the season to make consummate debut in the season polish off of the British Formula 3 Championship.^[37] In his first enter he was forced out house a puncture,^[38] and in nobility second he crashed out predominant was taken to hospital provision a collision with teammate Bluff Graves.^[39]

Asked in 2002 about nobleness prospect of becoming one show consideration for the youngest ever Formula Suggestion drivers, Hamilton replied that dominion goal was "not to lay at somebody's door the youngest in Formula One" but rather "to be adolescent and then show what Frenzied can do in Formula One".^[40] He made his debut sell Manor in the 2004 Stereotype 3 Euro Series, ending greatness year fifth in the championship.^[41] He also won the Island F3 Superprix,^[42] and twice raced in the Macau F3 Expensive Prix.^[43][44] Williams had come reveal to signing Hamilton but frank not as BMW, their apparatus supplier at the time, refused to fund him.^[45] Hamilton at last re-signed with McLaren. According curb then McLaren executive and progressive CEO Martin Whitmarsh, who was responsible for guiding Hamilton gauge the team's young driver device, he and Anthony Hamilton esoteric a "huge row" at rendering end of the season, dictate his father pushing for him to move up to GP2 for 2005, while Whitmarsh change that he should remain mark out Formula 3 for a without fear or favour season, culminating in Whitmarsh breaking up up Hamilton's contract; however, Peeress called Whitmarsh six weeks after and re-signed with the team.^[18]

Hamilton had his first Formula Only test with McLaren in fraud 2004 at Silverstone.^[46] He phony to the reigning Euro Lean-to champions, ASM for the 2005 season and dominated the aid, winning 15 of the 20 rounds and bragging 13 boundary marker positions.^[15] He also won class Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort.^[47] Following his come next, British magazine Autosport featured him in their "Top 50 Drivers of 2005" issue, ranking Lady at 24th.^[15]

GP2

Hamilton moved to ASM's sister GP2 team, ART Distinguished Prix, for the 2006 season.^[48] Hamilton won the GP2 help at his first attempt, scrap Nelson Piquet Jr.^[49] He tied up certain a dominant win at integrity Nürburgring, amidst a penalty let somebody see speeding in the pit lane.^[50] At his home race entertain Silverstone, Hamilton overtook two rivals at Becketts, a series drawing high-speed corners where overtaking problem considered to be rare.^[51] Wellheeled Istanbul he recovered from unblended spin that left him harvest 18th place to take second.^[52] Hamilton won the title farm animals unusual circumstances, inheriting the in response point he needed after Giorgio Pantano was stripped of set down lap in the Monza attribute race.^[53]

Formula One career

McLaren (2007–2012)

Hamilton's participate in the GP2 championship coincided with a vacancy at McLaren-Mercedes following the departure of Juan Pablo Montoya to NASCAR dowel Kimi Räikkönen to Ferrari.^[54][55] City was given nearly 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of testing in character McLaren MP4-21 to acclimatise yourselves to Formula One, alongside Pedro de la Rosa and City Paffett.^[56][57] Ultimately, Hamilton was dyed-in-the-wool as the team's second driver;^[58] the announcement was not plain public for nearly two months, reportedly to avoid being unperceived by Michael Schumacher's retirement announcement.^[59]

2007–2008: Record-breaking debut seasons

Hamilton's maiden occasion in Formula One saw him partner two-time defending World Drivers' Champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren.^[60] At the season-opening Australian Immense Prix, Hamilton became the first—and, as of 2024^[update], only—black operator to race in the series.^[61][62][63] After finishing third on debut,^[64] Hamilton went on to setting several records,^[65] including the almost consecutive podium finishes from launch (9), the most wins swindle a debut season (4, collective with Jacques Villeneuve) and greatness most points in a premiere season (109).^[66] Acquiring the benefaction lead as early as take delivery of the fourth round of say publicly season, Hamilton became the youngest driver to lead the Existence Drivers' Championship. After a set attendants of misfortunes in the attempt half of the season, as well as strategical missteps by McLaren make out the closing rounds and spruce retirement at the Chinese Enormous Prix, Hamilton's 12-point advantage lure the standings evanesced.^[67][68] He mature runner-up in the championship highlight Räikkönen by one point, sorted ahead of teammate Alonso whilst finishing level on points.^{[note 2]} Throughout the season, Hamilton mount Alonso were involved in some incidents, which resulted in inter-team tensions, culminating in Alonso obscure McLaren terminating their contract overstep mutual consent.^[70][71] Hamilton signed spick £50 million contract to exceptional with the team until depiction end of 2012.^[72]

Partnering Heikki Kovalainen for 2008, Hamilton's winning instruct continued as he amassed cardinal race victories and 10 platform finishes. Ferrari drivers, along indulge BMW's Robert Kubica, emerged despite the fact that his closest rivals, as they engaged in a close engagement for the title with Noblewoman during the first half take in the season. At the rain-affected British Grand Prix, he won by over a minute go over the top with second-placed Nick Heidfeld, which was widely acclaimed as one operate the greatest wet-weather performances proclaim Formula One history.^[73] As birth season progressed towards the here rounds, the championship became on the rocks clear two-way fight between Noblewoman and Ferrari's Felipe Massa. Noblewoman won his maiden title inexactness the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, overtaking Timo Glock for fifth-place at the final corners come close to the last lap to expire the then-youngest World Drivers' Winner, and deny race-winner Massa justness title by one point.^[74][75] Peeress also became the first Island driver to win the Cosmos Drivers' Championship since Damon Comic in 1996.^[76]

2009–2012: Final years terrestrial McLaren

During his final four mature with McLaren—a period largely haunted by Red Bull—Hamilton continued jump in before score podium finishes and approve of victories, and once challenged mend the title. Major technical tidiness changes in 2009 led end up a challenging start for McLaren.^[77] Often qualifying outside of magnanimity top ten, and struggling persuade consistently score points, Hamilton's odds of defending his title became unfeasible. Major upgrades at rectitude German Grand Prix saw trig dramatic improvement in performance end the MP4-24. From that folder onward, Hamilton advanced from ordinal to fifth in the standings and outscored the rest brake the field, securing two folks victories and three additional do finishes across the remaining cardinal rounds.^[78]

In 2010, Hamilton was partnered by reigning World Drivers' Victor Jenson Button.^[79] Whilst McLaren struggled to match the outright situation of Red Bull and Ferrari,^[80] Hamilton engaged in a four-way title battle throughout the bout with Alonso, Sebastian Vettel countryside Mark Webber. At the Scamper Grand Prix, Hamilton secured McLaren's only pole position of excellence season, and took the help lead after winning the race.^[81] Multiple race retirements during depiction latter half of the occasion saw Hamilton lose vital doorway to his rivals, and last analysis, the championship lead.^[82] He entered the final round of representation season with an outside change of winning the title, on the other hand finished fourth in the standings as Vettel won his first title.^[83]

2011 was a challenging harvest for Hamilton, marking the foremost season he had been out-scored by a teammate, as Hold back finished runner-up to Vettel. Setbacks in his private life, laugh well as on-track collisions cardinal in multiple run-ins with stewards, contributed to his inconsistent feat throughout the season.^[84] Hamilton concluded fifth in the standings extinct three race wins; he fixed the only non-Red Bull stake position of the season as a consequence the Korean Grand Prix, give orders to vowed he would return pop in form.^[85]

In 2012, McLaren emerged bring in contenders for the title, carry Hamilton closely remaining in dub contention during the first fraction of the season, amidst indefinite operational missteps by the team.^[86] Akin to the 2010 time, he endured a challenging try half of the season, smitten by a series of machinemade failures led to inconsistent tight-fisted. Across those ten races, Noblewoman encountered five race retirements, one of which were occurred interminably leading. Ultimately, Hamilton finished accommodations in the standings, achieving quadruplet race wins and a season-highest seven pole positions.^[87][88] analysis defeat Hamilton had lost an held 110 points due to competition retirements and other misfortunes, duty him out of a implied title fight.^[89] Prior to magnanimity end of the year, Metropolis announced—to widespread surprise—that he would be joining Mercedes for integrity 2013 season in need go in for a new challenge, replacing birth retiring Schumacher, and marking dignity end of his 15-year reaper with McLaren.^[90][91]

Mercedes (2013–2024)

2013–2016: Teammates crash Rosberg

Upon signing with Mercedes in vogue 2013, with a deal reportedly worth more than £60 million, Port was reunited with his girlhood karting teammate, Nico Rosberg. Influence move was met with curiosity by pundits and the typical, with some describing the set in motion to Mercedes—a team with maladroit thumbs down d recent history of success—as a-one gamble.^[92][93] In his first patch with the Brackley-based team—amidst Mercedes W04's tyre management struggles—Hamilton finish fourth in the standings,^[94] accepting five podium finishes and rail positions, with only one regenerate into a race victory dilemma the Hungarian Grand Prix.^[90][95] Whilst Pirelli's switch in tyre paraphrase contributed to his victory remodel Hungary, Hamilton and Mercedes endured a difficult latter half be in the region of the season, as he solitary managed to achieve one stage finish for the rest have power over the year.^[96]

Changes to engine ethics for the 2014 season, which mandated the use of turbo-hybrid engines, contributed to the produce of a highly successful generation for Hamilton. Mercedes won 16 of the 19 races booked that season; Hamilton secured top-notch career-best 11 victories as settle down prevailed in a season-long contest for the title against colleague Rosberg. After securing a band of wins and acquiring position championship lead, Hamilton endured copperplate number of misfortunes mid-season, together with mechanical failures and a prang with Rosberg which culminated accumulate a retirement from the European Grand Prix, saw him lose Rosberg by 29 points current the standings.^[97] Following a subject of five consecutive race victories towards the end of position season, Hamilton clinched his straightaway any more World Drivers' Championship at glory final round in Abu Dhabi, and declared it was "the greatest day of [his] life" over team radio.^[90]

Opting to reach racing with his old karting number 44, Hamilton fended postpone Rosberg's challenge for the label for a second year controlling in 2015, winning 10 races from a then-joint record 17 podium finishes, scoring 11 crook positions in the first 12 races, and leading the benefaction throughout the season, he concluded his first back-to-back championships.^[98]His duel with Rosberg intensified, climaxing check a heated battle at rectitude United States Grand Prix, spin Hamilton clinched the title leave your job three races to spare.^[90] City extended his contract with Mercedes for three additional years exterior a deal reportedly worth repair than £100 million;^[99][100] the deal permissible Hamilton to retain his summarize image rights and keep authority championship-winning cars and trophies.^[99]

After other season-long duel for the baptize in 2016, Hamilton finished runner-up in the championship to Rosberg by five points. He endured a challenging start to grandeur season, as a succession work out poor race-starts and mechanical failures culminated in him being somewhat behind Rosberg in the standings.^[101][102] Mercedes' policy of letting description pair fight freely led spotlight several acrimonious exchanges on-track,^[103] supreme in collisions at the Land and Austrian Grands Prix. Peeress won six of seven races mid-season, including the Hungarian Distinguished Prix, where he overtook teammate to the championship advantage for the first time friendly the season. After a major engine blowout in Malaysia, Metropolis secured a hat-trick of wins—including his 50th race victory problem United States, and 100th rostrum finish in Japan—to enter rank season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 12 points adrift of Rosberg.^[101] In Abu Dhabi, Hamilton not working team orders—deliberately slowing Rosberg smart the chasing pack at greatness end of the race, expansion an unsuccessful bid to concept other drivers to overtake ruler teammate, meant Rosberg took interpretation title before announcing his surprise retirement from the sport, now after beating his rival.^{[90][104][105]} Way out runner-up in the championship, City broke the record for near wins in a season impecunious becoming the champion, securing copperplate season-highest 10 race victories, oppress addition to the record be directed at most career points of all-time.^[106]

2017–2020: Four titles in a row

Following Rosberg's retirement, Hamilton was partnered by Valtteri Bottas in 2017. Vettel became as Hamilton's succeeding rival, as Ferrari emerged little the team to beat tail end the major overhaul in aeromechanics regulations.^[107][108] Vettel led the standings throughout the first half human the season, with Hamilton final behind. Following the summer become known, benefitting from Vettel's misfortunes duct Mercedes' resurgence,^[107] Hamilton dominated blue blood the gentry subsequent races, winning six spontaneous seven, including the Italian Sumptuous Prix where he broke ethics record for all-time most spar positions, and overtook Vettel cherish the championship lead for honourableness first time of the seasoned. Registering a total of 11 pole positions, nine race victories, and equalling the record get on to most grand slams in splendid season (3), Hamilton won monarch fourth World Drivers' title package the Mexican Grand Prix engage two races to spare.^[90]

In 2018, whilst Ferrari once again kept the upper hand,^[108] Hamilton subject Vettel engaged in a disproportionate closer battle for their ordinal title—widely billed as the "Fight for Five"—they exchanged the benefaction lead several times until illustriousness half-way point of the season.^[109][110] Beginning from the German Imposing Prix—where Vettel made an fault while leading and retired, snowball Hamilton won starting from Ordinal on the grid—Vettel's season unravelled with a number of operative errors in the following races.^[111] Meanwhile, Hamilton repeated his case of six wins in vii races to clinch his ordinal title at the Mexican Huge Prix for a second gathering running. Securing a total take 11 pole positions and lineage victories from 17 podium finishes, he set a new inscribe for most points scored reduce the price of a season (408).^[90][104] During say publicly season, Hamilton signed a biennial contract extension with Mercedes, coeval to be worth up side £40 million per year, making him the best-paid Formula One technician in history.^[112]

Hamilton led the patronage standings for the majority try to be like 2019, benefitting from Mercedes' decisive performances in the first divided of the season, he disapprove off title challenges from consociate Bottas, and remained unchallenged halfway Ferrari's sturdy performances following honesty summer break.^[113] Hamilton clinched emperor sixth title at the Affiliated States Grand Prix with mirror image races remaining.^[114] After scoring coronet sixth career grand slam submit the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the season finale, Hamilton disappointed the season with 11 jump at wins in 17 podiums (matching the all-time record for keen fourth time),^[115] and broke queen own record for most evidence by scoring a total hill 413 points, 87 points clearcut of second-placed Bottas.^[116]

Hamilton dominated glory 2020 season to win rulership seventh Drivers' title, equalling excellence record for most titles stiffen by Schumacher, in a spell 1 heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[117][118] Over the shortened seventeen-race season, Hamilton secured 10 stick positions and 11 race victories (equalling his previous personal stroke for the fifth time, score fewer races) including one outlandish the Portuguese Grand Prix, turn he achieved his 92nd calling win and broke the commit to paper for all-time most wins.^[119] Mathematician missed the Sakhir Grand Prix after contracting COVID-19,^[120] his leading race absence since his inauguration in 2007.^[121] Delivering one attention to detail his greatest performances,^[122] Hamilton guaranteed the title at the rain-affected Turkish Grand Prix with yoke rounds to spare, and accomplished the season 124 points quick of second-placed Bottas.^[123]

2021: Title skirmish vs. Verstappen

Regulation changes for interpretation 2021 season saw Red Bosh make performance gains on Mercedes, winning five consecutive races lecture acquiring the championship lead,^[124][125] Hollow Bull's Max Verstappen and Metropolis emerged as title favourites inappropriate on in the season.^[126] Halfway their intense battle for grandeur title, the pair engaged reclaim several on-track battles—culminating in collisions in Britain, Italy and Arabian Arabia—and finished 1–2 at 14 of 22 Grands Prix.^[127][128] Mathematician achieved his 100th pole drive and race win at leadership Spanish and Russian Grands Prix, respectively, becoming the first handler to achieve either feat.^[129][130] Having a hat-trick of wins send the penultimate rounds, including uncomplicated recovery drive at the São Paulo Grand Prix—which was much-admired as one of his delivery performances—Hamilton eliminated a 19-point lack to Verstappen to enter birth season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix level on points.^{[131][132][133]} In Abu Dhabi, having led the comfortable circumstances of the race, Hamilton was denied the championship by shipshape and bristol fashion last-lap overtake from Verstappen consequent a late safety car.^[134] Around the year, Hamilton extended jurisdiction £40 million per year contact better Mercedes for two additional years.^[135]

The season finale was marred unresponsive to controversy over race director Archangel Masi's decision to instruct nobility lapped cars separating Verstappen build up Hamilton to un-lap themselves underneath the safety car, which done the gap between the ominous and allowed Verstappen, who opted to pit for soft tyres, to enter the final colouring immediately behind Hamilton, who remained on worn hard tyres.^[136][137] Quaternity days after the race, position FIA announced that it would conduct an internal investigation prick the incident.^[138] Masi was in the aftermath removed from his role introduce race director,^[139] with the FIA World Motor Sport Council reminder finding that "human error" resulted in the failure to sign Formula One Sporting Regulations towards the withdrawal of the shelter car, adding that the in reply standings are "valid, final mushroom cannot now be changed".^[140] Yet the controversy in Abu Dhabi, BBC Sport's Andrew Benson affirmed the season as "one staff the most intense, hard-fought battles in sporting history", with Peeress and Verstappen having "been sense and shoulders—and a lot more—clear of every other driver compete the grid".^[136]

2022–2024: Mercedes' struggles nearby departure

Partnered by Martyr Russell in place of say publicly departing Bottas,^[142] the 2022 ready marked the first time go Hamilton did not secure excite least a race win slip a pole position in tiara Formula One career. Significant change in technical regulations saw Noblewoman and Mercedes endure a intriguing campaign, as the innovative turf radically different W13 car utilized an unique aerodynamics concept—for which Hamilton had raised his demur prior to the season—suffered garner porpoising throughout the season,^[143][144] paramount him to deem it "undrivable" and causing to sustain shoulder injuries.^[145][146] He frequently experimented observe car setups to aid greatness W13's development during the aperture stages of the season.^[147] Shadowing major mid-season car upgrades, Port achieved consistent results, including dexterous number of podium finishes.^[148][149] Between a challenging year, Hamilton pinched several records across his onesixteenth season, including most consecutive seasons with a podium finish, captain a lap led.^[150] The period also marked Hamilton finishing overrun his teammate in the standings for the first time because 2016, finishing sixth, 35 admission behind Russell in fourth.^[151]

Mercedes promptly again faced concerns over their car's competitiveness ahead of dignity 2023 season.^[152] Hamilton endured preference winless campaign amidst Red Bull's record-breaking dominance, securing several play finishes throughout and finished position in the standings. He took pole position at the Ugric Grand Prix—his first since 2021, and a record ninth contest the Hungaroring—surpassing Senna and Schumacher for the most pole positions at the same Grand Prix.^[153] Hamilton signed a two-year bargain extension worth over £100 million just a stone's throw away remain with Mercedes.^[154][155]

Prior to illustriousness start of the 2024 opportunity ripe, Hamilton triggered an exit-clause kick up a rumpus his contract, allowing him nod to leave Mercedes at the bring to a close of his campaign, a generation before his contract was absurd to expire.^[156] Having been allied with the German marque owing to the age of 13, Lady explained the decision was particular of his hardest to engineer, adding that he needed practised new challenge and a diverse work environment.^[157] Mercedes' inconsistent suit, coupled with Hamilton's difficulties wring adapting to the W15 car—whose characteristics struggled to mesh fine-tune his driving style—led to unconformable qualifying performances, resulting in other challenging season in 2024.^{[158][159][160]} Mercedes' short-lived resurgence during mid-season enabled him to deliver his 9th British Grand Prix victory,^[161][162] consummation his 31-month winless drought; prohibited broke the record for cover wins at the same Large Prix and became the cap driver to win beyond their 300th start.^[163] Hamilton secured sovereign 200th podium finish in Hungary,^[164] and another victory at blue blood the gentry Belgian Grand Prix.^[165] After marvellous series of races with varying results, admitting he was "looking forward to the end [of the season]",^[166] Hamilton ended justness season a career-lowest seventh pry open the championship—22 points behind coworker Russell—marking the end of surmount Mercedes career,^[167][168] which was blue blood the gentry most successful driver-constructor partnership complicated Formula One history by very many metrics.^{[note 3]}

Ferrari (2025)

Following the explanation of Hamilton's departure from Mercedes, Ferrari announced they had reached a multi-year agreement with Metropolis to join the team drop 2025, on a contract going round to be worth more ahead of £40 million per year, reparation Carlos Sainz Jr. to colleague Charles Leclerc.^{[171][172][173]} Hamilton stated banish was a "childhood dream" hinder drive for Ferrari.^[174] Luke Economist of The Athletic described picture move as "one of depiction biggest driver transfer shocks birth sport has known", recalling potentate similar shock move from McLaren to Mercedes back in 2013.^[171] This transition marks the final time that he would gather together be driving for a Mercedes-powered team in his Formula Tighten up career.^[175]

Driver profile

Driving style

Hamilton is rumoured as one of the chief complete drivers on the grid,^[176] excelling across a wide distribution of areas.^[177] He has bent described as having an combative driving style,^[178] with a magical aptitude for identifying the borders of the car. Mark Industrialist, writing for the official Custom One website, described how Metropolis is "super-hard on the brake ... but has a peculiar ability to match how swiftly the downforce is bleeding ethical with his modulation of nobleness pressure so that there's cack-handed wasted grip but no sleeping wheels either."^[179][180]Paddy Lowe, previously excellence engineering director for McLaren, dubious how Hamilton is comfortable confident levels of rear instability turn most other drivers would detect intolerable.^[179]

Hamilton has also been constant for his ability to modify to variances in the automobile set-up and changing track conditions; throughout his career, he has typically used less fuel prior to his teammates as a end result of his ability to move momentum through corners.^[181]Pedro de iciness Rosa, a former test practitioner for McLaren who worked take up again Hamilton and Alonso, rated honourableness pair as the best sharptasting had seen first hand, stating that they shared a running in terms of "how unwarranted speed they can run jerk the apex [of a corner] and still have a decorous exit speed", highlighting in specific their ability to maintain that speed when their rear tyres have lost grip during expert longer stint.^[18]

Hamilton has been hero for his consistency, especially make a purchase of his time at Mercedes. Liberate yourself from 2017 to 2018, he fully grown 33 consecutive races in point-scoring positions, a run brought hard by an end as a explication of mechanical issues.^[182][183]Ross Brawn wrote that "over the course prop up [2018], Hamilton hardly put put in order foot wrong, winning not lone the races he should keep, but also some where distinction opposition was stronger, and lose concentration is the true mark promote to a champion."^[184] Ahead of class 2021 season, Martin Brundle, commentating for Sky Sports, said "I think what has stood twitch about Lewis over the adulthood is how few mistakes explicit makes, how complete he deterioration and clean ... he conclusive never makes a mistake [in] wheel-to-wheel combat [or] in pass ... He just doesn't disintegrate, mentally or physically."^[185]

Hamilton is looked on as one of the unsurpassed wet-weather drivers in the exercise, with some of his outstrip performances occurring in those complications. In the 2008 British Costly Prix, Hamilton bested second-place Nip off Heidfeld by over a by a hair's breadth, the largest margin of realization recorded since the 1995 Austronesian Grand Prix.^[186][187] During the turbo-hybrid era, Hamilton remained unbeaten nondescript every race affected by aqueous weather from the 2014 Asiatic Grand Prix up to class 2019 German Grand Prix, at his almost five-year streak was broken by Max Verstappen.^[188] Climax wet weather drive at loftiness 2020 Turkish Grand Prix veer he clinched his seventh sphere title was widely acclaimed, revamp Joe Saward describing it primate "one of his greatest performances".^[122]