How could a Black man rise to the throne of F1? Once mocked in the paddock as a “hip-hop kid,” Lewis Hamilton defied all odds to become a seven-time world champion. Twenty years ago, no one believed a Black driver could even enter the paddock, but this man shattered those unwritten rules with 7 world titles, 44 pole positions, and 200 cornering drills—perfecting his turns down to 00:01 seconds.
Lewis Hamilton was born in 1985 in Stevenage, England, to a mixed-race family. At the age of eight, his father spent all his savings to buy young Lewis a rusty go-kart. It was that kart—number 44—that unlocked the genius within him. In 1998, at just 13, Hamilton signed with the McLaren junior program, and nine years later, he officially joined the McLaren F1 team. In his debut race, he stood on the podium. However, tensions with teammate Fernando Alonso and a gearbox failure in the season finale at Brazil left him second in the championship—by just one point—making him the first Black rookie in F1 history to contend for the world title.
In 2008, the rain in São Paulo spared no one. Glock, struggling with grip, slowed, and Hamilton slipped inside at the final corner, finishing just 0.7 seconds ahead. At 23, he became world champion. In 2012, Hamilton left McLaren for Mercedes. In 2013, starting fourth at the Hungarian Grand Prix, he took Mercedes’ first race win in 57 years. On the podium, he held up his #44 helmet—the number from his karting days—a symbol that the world now knew marked a new era for this extraordinary driver.
He went on to produce legendary performances: 17 overtakes in the wet at Singapore 2017, running 53 laps on a single set of tires at Monza 2018, and winning in treacherous wet conditions on worn intermediates in Turkey 2020. In 2021, he and Max Verstappen clashed in Abu Dhabi’s controversial finale, where a contentious decision by the race director handed Verstappen the title and denied Hamilton an eighth crown. Afterward, Hamilton deleted all his social media and flew to Hawaii, as if realizing there was more to life than racing.
In 2022, Hamilton returned with “Mission 44,” refusing to endorse fossil fuel brands while donating $2 million to environmental causes and advocating for sustainable fuels in F1. Staying true to his roots, he continued to race under his childhood kart number. In 2024, he made a bold switch to Ferrari, taking #44 into the sea of red in Italy.
Lewis Hamilton’s legacy goes far beyond his 102 race victories. What lies ahead—more glory or a bittersweet farewell—remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: this man is still defining his own legend.
🛒 Shop Now & Choose your F1 Model！
