When it comes to drivers from humble beginnings, we cannot avoid talking about Lewis Hamilton. Especially his father, Anthony, who was arguably one of the key reasons Hamilton could achieve such success. Anthony worked tirelessly, juggling multiple jobs—at one point, even holding down four simultaneously—for one purpose: to give Hamilton the best chance possible. To save money, he sometimes even slept in his car.
In fact, Hamilton’s career path resembled that of Norris in some ways. At just 13 years old, he signed with McLaren’s junior program. Ron Dennis saw the spark in his eyes—focus, confidence, and the qualities of a future champion. But in motorsport, family sacrifice and talent are not enough. Funding is essential. Dennis became Hamilton’s benefactor. With Hamilton’s talent, entering F1 was almost inevitable, but winning so many championships was no accident.
Anthony gave everything for his son, while also shaping his driving style. Without access to the best engines, chassis, or parts, Hamilton often had the slowest kart on the grid. That forced him to master late braking early in his career. Anthony would watch the top drivers trackside and then tell Hamilton, “You must brake later than them, otherwise you’ll never stand a chance.” Hamilton either failed or complained, but his father would keep him practicing the same braking point again and again until he succeeded.
Failure after failure ultimately built Hamilton’s success. With limited funds, Anthony had to be a jack-of-all-trades: persuading sponsors door to door, coaching his son, and even acting as mechanic. It’s fair to say that half of Hamilton’s achievements today belong to his father.
On the other side of the story are Lance Stroll and his father, Lawrence. Though often discussed, their case remains worth mentioning. Lawrence Stroll’s net worth exceeds $3 billion, and his car collection alone rivals Adam Norris’s entire fortune. He made massive profits by securing Canadian distribution rights for global fashion brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Pierre Cardin, and Michael Kors, ranking 812th on the global rich list.
From a young age, Lance was passionate about racing, so his father even bought the Mont-Tremblant circuit in Quebec. He remains the only F1 driver in history to have his own private racetrack. Lawrence’s car collection is staggering, valued at around $180 million, including a Ferrari 250 GTO worth over $50 million.
When it came to making his son a professional driver, the Stroll family operated on a level far beyond most people’s imagination. From the karting stage, Lance traveled by private jet and had a dedicated team, including former F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa as his first coach. As Lance defeated children from humble backgrounds, his father pulled an even bigger move—spending £60 million to essentially buy out the Prema team and secure his son’s seat over a more promising young driver.
To his credit, Lance did achieve some results: winning the Italian F4 championship in 2014, competing in F3 in 2015 and 2016, then skipping F2 entirely to debut directly in F1 in 2017. Once again, Lawrence “paid the price,” convincing Williams to take him. Later, unsatisfied with mere pay-driver status, Lawrence outright bought Force India, renaming it Racing Point. In 2021, he spent $182 million to acquire Aston Martin, guaranteeing Lance a unique “lifetime contract” in F1.
Had Lance shown true skill—or at least some humility—the criticism might not have been so harsh. But he has shown neither. At the 2023 Qatar GP, he qualified only 17th, then lashed out at the team afterward, even verbally abusing staff. Such behavior makes his presence in F1 pitiful to watch.
Yet, in another sense, he is also tragic. Lance has never truly lived for himself, nor does he seem to feel a genuine sense of belonging in the paddock. No matter how much money you have, real champions are forged by grit and perseverance, not by a checkbook. If success could truly be bought, the poor would never rise to the top. Thankfully, Formula 1 doesn’t work that way.
🛒 Shop Now & Choose your F1 Model！
