Biography
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton was born on January 7th, 1985, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. He is the third child of Carmen Larbalestier (who is also mother of Nicola and Samantha Lockhart) and the first child of Anthony Hamilton, whose parents migrated from the Caribbean island of Grenada to United Kingdom in the 1950’s. Two years after his birth, his parents got divorce from and Hamilton stayed with his mother and half-sisters until the age of 12. He started living with his father, his stepmother Linda and his half-brother Nicolas (born in 1992), for whom he gave a lot of support due his cerebral palsy. Hamilton attended The John Henry Newman School, a Catholic school, and in 2001, he joined Cambridge Arts and Sciences, in where he graduated.
Lewis Hamilton as a baby. (Photo: Pinterest) [1]
Hamilton as a grown baby (Photo: Lewis Hamilton’s Instagram) [2]
Hamilton’s interest in automobile started very early. His father bought him a radio-controlled car in 1991, when he was six years old, and in the following year, he finished second place in the national BRCA (British Radio Car Association) championship, beating adults in the competition. For his brilliant results, Anthony Hamilton gave to his son a go-kart as a Christmas gift and began managing his career, reconciling with much effort his new assignment with his other three jobs. Later, he created his own computer company and could dedicate his full time to Lewis.
Hamilton, at the age of eight, racing in a go-kart. (Photo: Daily Mail) [3]
In 1993, at the age of eight, Hamilton started karting in the Rye House Kart Circuit, localized in Hoddesdon, about 16 miles (circa of 25 km) from Stevenage. In a few time, he was already winning races. Two years after his debut, Lewis won the British Karting Championship in cadet class (the first of the sport) and the STP Karting Championship. In the following year, he won three championships (Champions of the Future series, Sky TV Kartmasters and Five Nations) racing for Martin Hines’s Zip Young Guns Karting Team. In 1997, he joined Junior Yamaha, won the Super One series and Champion of the Future series and became two time British Karting champion. In 1998, besides winning the European and the World Karting Championship, Hamilton attracted Ron Dennis’ attention and singed to the McLaren Driver Development Support Programme, with guarantee financial and technical support besides the possibility of entry in the maximum category of automobile. At 13 years old, he became the youngest driver to have been contracted by a Formula One team.
Lewis with his second-place trophy in one of the races from 1996 Sky TV Kartmasters, which he was champion. (Photo: kartingmagazine.com) [4]
Graduating to the Junior Intercontinental A class (KF3) still in 1998, Hamilton was second in McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future and fourth in Italian Open Championship. In 1999, he repeat placing in the Italian competition, was European runner-up and winner of Trophy de Pomposa and Italian Industrials Championship. Besides that, he rose to Intercontinental A class (KF2).
In 2000, Lewis reached the maximum karting category, the Formula A (KF1), racing for the first time with Nico Rosberg, in Team MBM. His triumph was maximum, as his score: European champion, winning the four rounds. After that, he had a series of winnings: World Cup Championship (in Japan), World Number One, Elf Masters (as known as Masters Karting Paris Bercy) and second place in Italian Open Championship. The boy’s talent attracted the attention of British Racing Drivers’ Club, which named him a “Rising Star” Member.
In 2001, Michael Schumacher disputed a karting racing with Hamilton (now in Formula Super A), Nico Rosberg and Vitantonio Liuzzi. This happened in Kerpen Circuit, Germany, property of Rolf Schumacher, Michael’s father. The German finished third in the contest won by Maro Ardigo. However, due the winner’s disqualification, Sauro Cesetti inherited the victory, followed by Schumacher and Rosberg. Hamilton finished seventh. Schumacher recognized big qualities in the young driver and predicted he would reach Formula One.
This little boy scared many people. An unquestionable talent. (Photo: lewishamilton-44.com) [5]
Lewis is his last karting times, next to Nico Rosberg. Look at the Finnish flag on his go-kart side. (Photo: BBC Sport) [6]
Still in 2001, he joined Formula Renault 2.0 UK, competing first in British Formula Renault Winter Series, and Manor Motorsport invited him to make a test. It was his first time in a racing car. However, the beginning was not as expected. Hamilton crashed at lap 3. Nevertheless, according with the team boss John Booth, this did not hurt him, because he tried once again and was even faster. He finished fifth in the championship. In the following year, participating in all races, Lewis has three victories and finished third (Danny Watts was the champion).
In 2003, Hamilton won British Formula Renault Championship with impressive results: 419 points (48 more than teammate Alex Lloyd), 10 victories, 9 faster laps, and 11 pole positions. With the title guaranteed, he did not participate in the last two races from the competition to debut in final round of British Formula Three Championship. Unfortunately, the two races ended bad for Lewis. He retired in the first due a puncture, and in the second, he suffered a strong collision with his teammate Tor Graves. He was send unconscious to Sidcup Hospital. However, he could participate in Macau Grand Prix and was pole position in Korea Super Prix, his fourth race in Formula Three.
In the following year, Lewis changed British Formula Three for Formula 3 Euro Series. Racing for the same team, Manor, he won the first race in Norisring (German) and finished third in the second. Getting even the third place in the first races in Nürburgring and Zandvoort, he scored 68 points and finished the championship in the fifth place, two points behind Nico Rosberg. He also won the Bahrain F3 Superprix and raced in an edition of Macau Grand Prix. In December 2004, he made his first test with McLaren’s Formula One car.
His career in Formula Three ended worthily. In 2005, racing for ASM, from 20 races, he won 15 officially (his victory in the first race in Spa-Francorchamps was annulled due irregularities in his car). He also got 13 pole positions, 10 fastest laps and 2 third places. With 172 points, he became champion. In the same year, he won the Masters of Formula 3, in Zandvoort (Netherlands), the last time Marlboro sponsored the tourney. He was honored with 24th place on Top 50 2005 Drivers from British magazine Autosport.
Podium of the first Monaco race from 2005 Formula 3 Euro Series season. Lewis was the winner, with Adrian Sutil (left) in second and Loïc Duval (right) in third place. (Photo: formula3.info) [7]
Starting another step from his career, Lewis joined GP2 in 2006, with ASM sister team, ART Grand Prix. Scoring 114 points, he became champion with 5 victories, 7 second places, 2 third places, one pole position (Monaco) and 6 faster laps. On September 30th that year, McLaren decided Hamilton would be Fernando Alonso’s partner in Formula One in 2007, but due Schumacher’s retirement announce, the team only divulged the decision on November 24th, fearing the news got unnoticed.
Hamilton celebrating the conquest of 2006 GP2 season. (Photo: racefans.net) [8]
Hamilton debuted in Formula One at 2007 Australian Grand Prix, at the age of 22. He started fourth and scored his first podium, finishing third (with Kimi Räikkönen first and Fernando Alonso second). It was the first time a rookie got a podium since Jacques Villeneuve second place at 1996 Australian GP and just the beginning of a brilliant season. Then, he scored 4 consecutive second places. From Spanish race, then scoring 30 points, Lewis started leading the championship, breaking Bruce McLaren record of youngest driver to do this, at 22 years and 126 days. His fifth race, in Canada, brought him a double satisfaction: first pole position and first victory (sharing the podium with Nick Heidfeld and Alexander Wurz).
Hamilton’s first podium in Formula One, on his debut at 2007 Australian GP, won by Räikkönen with Alonso in second place. (Photo: MWLsport) [9]
Hamilton’s first victory in Formula One, at 2007 Canadian GP. At the left side is Nick Heidfeld and at right is Alexander Wurz. (Photo: AP) [10]
After this triumph, Lewis got more 3 victories, one second place and 2 third places. Hungarian GP qualifying was marked by Alonso’s move that prevented Hamilton from setting his last time. Later, it was discovered that it was a “revenge” because the British driver had disrespected a team order to leave the Spanish pass. Lewis started on pole position after Alonso got a 5-place penalty and McLaren did not received the points in constructors’ championship (later, the team was disqualified due the spying scandal, but their drivers had not their point annulled). After his victory in Japan, Hamilton had his first retirement in China (lap 30) after his car got into the gravel, but he was still leading the championship. Only at the last race of the year, in Brazil, Räikkönen got Hamilton’s leadership, winning the race and the world title. Hamilton, who fished seventh, was the runner up by the difference of only one point and the same score of Alonso. However, the year was very advantageous for the driver, giving him 8 records, from which he keeps 6 (see them on “Trivia”). The viewers knew they were before a future champion and legend of sport.
Lewis and his mother, Carmen, at 2008 Canadian GP. (Photo: zimbio.com) [11]
The contest for 2008 world title was as tough as previous, but Felipe Massa, not Kimi Räikkönen, was the rival to be beaten. The year started with teammate change: Heikki Kovalainen replaced Alonso, who joined Renault. Hamilton started winning the first round, in Australia, and only from fourth race, in Spain, Massa appeared among the championship top 5 and started competing definitely with Lewis. The British came to the last round, in Brazil, needing only a fifth place to receive the title. That was exactly the result. Tough Massa’s victory, his fifth place made him champion with 98 points, one more than the Brazilian. It was 5 victories, 2 second places and 3 third places. In addition to the big party in McLaren’s boxes, featuring his family and his then girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, the driver even received congratulations from Queen Elizabeth II, from first minister Gordon Brown and from Damon Hill, the last British driver to win a Formula One championship until that time. Still in that year, Lewis broke Alonso’s record of “youngest Formula One World’s Driver champion” (23 years and 300 days), and was only beaten two years later by Sebastian Vettel by a difference of 166 days.
Lewis holding the British flag with text “world champion” after conquest 2008 championship. (Photo: Sky Sports) [12]
Celebrating 2008 world title with half-brother Nicolas, father Antony, stepmother Linda and then girlfriend Nicole. (Photo: zimbio.com) [13]
Hamilton cheering his first Formula One championship, in 2008, next to his mother, Carmen Larbalestier. (Photo: zimbio.com) [14]
Contrasting with brilliant year of 2008, 2009 brought below that expected results for the new legend of Formula One. Disqualified at first GP, in Australia, due McLaren’s order do give his position for Jarno Trulli during the safety car, he got only 2 victories and 2 third places. He finished championship fifth, with 49 points. Jenson Button, his teammate in the following year, got the title.
Between 2010 and 2012, Hamilton kept a certain constancy of results, but far away from he got in 2007 and 2008. In 2010, with 3 victories, 5 second places and one third place, among other results, he scored 240 points and finished fourth in championship. In the following year, he was fifth with 227 points, 3 victories and 3 second places. In 2012, he was fourth again, with 190 points, 4 victories and 3 third places. In these three seasons, Vettel was the champion. After Singapore GP, which he retired due a problem in gearbox, Lewis announced that 2012 would be his last year with McLaren and as of 2013 he would be part of Mercedes team among Nico Rosberg.
After 6 years for McLaren, Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013, becoming Nico Rosberg teammate for second time in his entire career. (Photo: Estação Cronográfica) [15]
Hamilton’s first year for Mercedes was similar to his last with McLaren. Scoring 189 points, he finished the tourney in fourth place, with one victory and 4 third places. However, this championship, won by Vettel, would be the last from an average time in Lewis career, because his glory years would come back after that.
In 2014, Hamilton and Rosberg held a good competition for the world title. The British driver was victorious, becoming two-time champion. After a frustrating retirement at first race, in Australia, he got 11 victories, 3 second places and 2 third places, totalizing 384 points, 67 more than Nico. In the following year, the scenery repeated: Lewis became three-time champion with 381 points, 59 more than his teammate. With 10 victories, 6 second places and one third place, the British driver give continuity to for a period of Mercedes mastery after Red Bull’s reign between 2010 and 2013.
Lewis celebrating his second world title, in 2014, his first with Mercedes. (Photo: NationalTurk) [16]
Hamilton at his second title celebration, in 2014, among his stepmother Linda and his father Anthony. Look at Nico Rosberg expression. (Photo: ESPN UK) [17]
Lewis with his mother Carmen and his stepsisters Nicola and Samantha at 2014 FIA Prize Giving, in Qatar. (Photo: Lewis Hamilton official website) [18]
Lewis cheering his third world championship in 2015. (Photo: Coral) [19]
However, after Nico staying behind Hamilton three consecutive years, in 2016 the tables had turned. Lewis started the year with a second place in Australia, then third in Bahrein. In Spain, an accident at first lap took the Mercedes duo from the race. After this, he won in Monaco and repeated the result 9 times, besides getting a second place and 3 third places. His retirement in Malaysia, where he got pole position, caused by an engine problem, provided Rosberg mathematical advantage. The German won the championship at the last race of the year, in Abu Dhabi, finishing second and scoring 385 points against 380 from Lewis. Nico, however, announced his retirement at the end of that year, surprising the media, the teams and the supporters. The year repeated the record conquest by Lewis in 2015 of “most podium finishes in a season” (17) and gave him more 5 new records (see them on “Trivia”).
In 2017, with Valtteri Bottas as his new partner, Hamilton saw Ferrari threatening Mercedes mastery already at season’s first race, in Australia, with Sebastian Vettel’s victory. Lewis, who finished second, knew that his new mission were reach the fourth world title, defeat Vettel and keep his team sovereignty. He got later 3 victories and one second place. During the eighth race of the year, in Azerbaijan, one of the most controversial episodes of sport happened. For avoid overtaking the safety car, because that would give him a penalty, the pole position Hamilton slowed down and Vettel ended crashed into his back. Annoyed with this, the German accelerated, stayed nest to the British and moved intentionally his car into him. Sebastian received a 10 second stop n’ go penalty, but finished fourth, one position in front Hamilton. After this, the British got 6 victories. Vettel suffered a strange collision in Singapore and a problem in a spark plug took him from Japanese GP. Lewis was crowned champion already at Mexican GP, at which he was lapped for the first time in his career. He could finish ninth after a tough fight against Alonso. At his race, won by Max Verstappen, the British scored 333 points at all. He finished the year with 363, 46 more than Sebastian. In 2017, he got 9 new records (see them on “Trivia”).
Carrying the British flag after winning his fourth world title, in 2017, in Mexican GP. (Photo: The Telegraph) [20]
Lewis, in a bold look, receiving the trophy of champion at FIA Prize Giving, in 2017. Next to him there is Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss, who holds the trophy of champion of the constructors. (Photo: grandprix247.com) [21]
In 2018 Hamilton had a brilliant year. He got two podiums on his first two races (second-place in Australia and victory in Bahrain) and had just one retirement in all year (in Austria). With a powerful car, nearly invincible, he scored points in all races, having 11 victories, three second-places, three third-places and 11 pole positions. He won his fifth championship with 408 points. In 2019, Hamilton repeated his deeds, winning his sixth title with 413 points, 11 wins, and 17 podiums.
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