Lewis Hamilton is not a champion, he is ‘the’ champion because he is the most successful driver in the history of Formula 1. Everything that, in our opinion not always interesting, he does off the track finds a sumptuous counterpoint in what he does and has done when he drives. He is not handsome, not charming, not elegant, he expresses himself behind a steering wheel and there the ugly duckling becomes a swan. For Lewis race doesn’t matter, he is the only one in the world of whom no one has ever said he is black.
Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull is congratulated by runner up in the race and championship Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on 12 December 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Mario Renzi / Formula 1 via Getty Images.
He is the driver who started from nothing, who worked his way up, who trained on the wet circuits of his England, the English style sports driver, sensitive and respectful, who congratulates his opponent for the victory even if he stole it from him (the hug to Max Verstappen in December 2021 in Abu Dhabi after the theft of that year's world championship was incredible. Who would have ever done that?) and who doesn’t overtake if this puts his opponent's race at risk. In short, closer to Stirling Moss than to today's drivers, who don't even know what these values are.
Lewis’ cockpit view and his Mercedes steering wheel.
Lewis Hamilton is the epitome of the Ferrari opponent, having driven McLaren and Mercedes for years and for years he had the opposing support of Ferrari fans all over the world.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG, congratulates Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, after the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 08, 2024. Photo by Zak Mauger / LAT Images.
Then something happens that probably no one would have expected: Hamilton declares a great love for the Red and signs for Ferrari, which decides to welcome him by saying goodbye to Carlos Sainz, an idol of the fans together with Leclerc. But Lewis Hamilton, an Englishman with a motoring culture light years away from that of Ferrari, who marries the car from Maranello, who decides to drive it for his swan song in Formula 1 is a beautiful story that warms the heart. Yes, because Lewis, the champion, the most successful of all, could have easily finished his career in Mercedes in his comfort zone, without taking risks, without risking a failure that could affect his brilliant career. But, instead he makes a romantic gesture, almost from another time, taking the leap into the dark that the timid Newey didn’t feel like taking. A gesture from someone in love with racing, with the history of Formula 1. Even the strongest of all, if he ends his career without driving a Red car, remains a wonderful unfinished business, a cake without the icing on. The same restlessness as Senna, who would have driven a Ferrari if he hadn’t died. So, seeing this legendary driver with all his endless successes in his pocket, who surrenders himself like a child to live his unspeakable dream trying to win another world championship and do it with his lifelong adversary, well it’s something that gives you the shivers. He missed Ferrari but Ferrari also missed Hamilton. Two legends, the most successful and famous team and the most successful driver, who meet in the last waltz, at the last possible moment and deliver to history another of those thrilling moments for which Formula 1 has become famous over the years and remains the last treasure chest of true emotions available.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG, 1st position and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG, 2nd position, in the press conference after the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 28, 2024. Photo by Sam Bagnall / LAT Images.
A proof that confirms Hamilton's sportsmanship is Spa 2024. Why did Lewis come in second on the track without really trying to win? Couldn't he? Was he afraid of Russell? Was he lacking motivation? Didn't he feel like taking a risk? None of the above. It's not in Hammer's style to get a breathless, disjointed victory with an all-or-nothing overtaking, ‘do cojo cojo’ style. After all, he is and remains the only modern F1 champion to have always lost and won with style. And in Belgium he once again applies his personal code of ethics and doesn't even try to subvert the situation. He comes in second and that's it. The only emotional reaction is perceptible immediately after the race, when he gets out of the car very slowly, extremely disappointed, in contrast with the frenetic, accelerated enthusiasm of the victorious Russell, but that's all. Since 2007, there has been a thin red line that connects eighteen seasons in the noble areas of F.1 and it is given by the style, the class that Hamilton shows off in all 345 Grands Prix disputed. He doesn't hit, he doesn't steal, he doesn't make mistakes, period. He doesn't even try and he would never try. In a world where all the greatest of the modern era, from Schumi to Max passing through Senna and Prost, have all committed something to be ashamed of on the track, with full will and scientia fraudis, that is the clear intention to hit and steal. Not Lewis. He is a player without warnings, a baritone without flaws, a violin with strings that have never broken.
Lewis Hamilton overtakes a too 'yielding' Timo Glock and becomes 2008 world champion at the expense of the Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.
The only blemish: Lewis Hamilton lost the 2021 championship as he had won the one of 2008 at the expense of Felipe Massa.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, prepares to drive during qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on 15 July 2017 in Northampton, England. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton was certainly the best of his era and for his numbers perhaps the best ever. In addition to being very fast, he has the characteristic of having a very high conversion rate of pole positions into victories. Because his strength is the race pace and the conservation of the tires. He remained tied to a Formula 1 belonging to another time and that led to a very rigid selection of drivers. Finding the limit of those cars of the past belonged to a few, to the champions.
"What would I like the Formula 1 of the future to be like? If it were up to me, we would have naturally aspirated V12 engines, manual gearboxes and no more power steering. I would make it as difficult as possible for the drivers. I want racing cars that you can leave completely exhausted after a race, as if you had completed a marathon. Formula 1 should be a sport for real men. Today, young drivers come to Formula 1 and easily find the limit. Instead, it should be insanely difficult, so difficult that only the best can do it. This would also mean cars that are significantly lighter than current ones. That would be my Formula 1." Lewis Hamilton
Pole position qualifier Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, stops in parc ferme during qualifying for the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at Sepang Circuit on 30 September 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
With Lewis Hamilton and the end of the hybrid era, the phase of Formula 1 ends within which it is possible, albeit with difficulty, to make comparisons between protagonists of different eras. An uncrossable line must be drawn. From 2022 onwards Formula 1 becomes another sport, with new rules and new protagonists. It will be the Formula One fully of this time, totally free from legacies of the past. From the birth of Formula 1, therefore, until the end of 2021 the strongest drivers have been Fangio, Senna, Schumacher and Hamilton.
Hamilton, however, has the best numbers of all four and, from a statistical point of view, he is the best ever. After that we could delve into details or personal evaluations that would lead us to get lost and the judgment could change, remaining however subjective, but on the numbers there is no discussion, he won.
Lewis Hamilton and his beloved Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton marries Ferrari. Excerpt from an article by Chiara Zucchelli for ‘Il Corriere dello Sport’ on February 02, 2024.
The most successful driver ever in the most successful car ever. The marriage between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari was not to be, too cluttered with titles and history, too big and too beautiful, too much of everything, studied three times and aborted three times. Instead, it is happening and this is the real bomb, on the closing day of the transfer market. We are in the Cesarini zone for Hamilton, thirty-nine rings in the trunk but an innate fascination for the Red and a devouring desire to win the eighth World Championship. If he were to succeed it would be a legend for him, for the Cavallino.
Because only Ferrari can transform him from myth to legend. Lewis is already in the history of Formula 1 and world sports. But, to become not only the strongest but also the most beloved, he needs one thing: the red of the Prancing Horse.
Lewis Hamilton is knighted by Prince Charles for his contribution to motorsport at Windsor Castle in December 2021.
To be the strongest, the most successful, probably the richest, to be a Sir on and off the track. To be, in short, Lewis Hamilton. He didn't, doesn't, need Ferrari for all this, the infinite English champion. But to be something else, yes. To stop time, Hamilton needs to shoulder something timeless. And it's no coincidence, net of the salary and the project, that he did it now, on the threshold of 40 years. The great champions, who like all heroes are young and beautiful, seem to feel the passing of age as if it were the clock of a slow, but inexorable, decline. There are those who try to respond to the wear and tear by seeking new challenges, those who set themselves long and medium-term goals, those who try to get by and those who, instead, decide to bite life. Hamilton did it, he will do it and not because he is a benefactor. He is a man, as such fallible and as such egocentric. He has won everything he could win, he has achieved planetary fame. But he hasn't worn that never-fading red yet.
Schumacher did it, not coincidentally the only one to win seven World Championships. Like Lewis. Of all the titles won by Schumi those with Ferrari, with him conducting the mechanics' orchestra from the podium during the anthem, were and remain eternal. Unforgettable. Hamilton's titles are, remain and will remain wonderful but, perhaps, cold. To try to surpass Schumacher and deliver himself to history with a capital H, Hamilton had only one road. Covered in red. He chose to follow it even knowing that a boy, very good and very strong, more than ten years younger, will try to do better than him. A challenge within a challenge. Lewis Hamilton is no longer a child. But he has started to design his car. Red in color.
Jacques Villeneuve with Lewis Hamilton at Autosport Awards in London on 03 December 1995. Photo by Bloxham / LAT Photographic.
“Lewis could be the one to put that past of Ferrari behind finally. You get the biggest driver of all time joining the biggest team of all time.” Jacques Villeneuve
And Ferrari is waiting for him. Welcome Lewis.
Lewis Hamilton quotes and interviews
British Junior Go Kart racer Lewis Hamilton, aged 10, ready for a drive at Kimbolton race track in England on 19 December 1995. Photo by Philip Brown / Popperfoto / Getty Images.
“I was crashing all the time. I was crashing, I was going to the back of the grid. I wasn’t winning races, I couldn’t keep up with the other guys because every time I tried to go faster I would crash. It was really hard to get to the limit. My confidence was really tested. There was a moment where we, me and my dad, got home. We were sitting in front of the garage in the car. And we didn’t come out for 5, 10 minutes. And, at that moment, I thought my career was over. We were both like … maybe, maybe you’re not cut out for this. Maybe it’s just …, maybe this isn’t what you’re supposed to do. And there were so many questions that were just leading in a bad direction. And I remember we got out of the car, I went up to my room and I didn’t go down for dinner. I just sat in my room thinking about what exactly I wanted and where I wanted to be. And I reminded myself what my goal was and what I was willing to sacrifice to get there. The next morning, I woke up early. I went out for the longest run I had ever done. I had always limited my runs. I would go certain distances. That time, I set a really long distance for myself. I came back and physically I felt like I could go on, but I had come home. And I remember calling my stepmother Linda. Can you take me …, can we go out in the car? Can I do the course again? We did, because I didn’t know how much I had run. It ended up being 13, 14 miles or something like that. And, through that process, I was like ‘I know I can do this.’ I went to the next race. And, slowly, I stopped crashing and then I won the championship.” Lewis Hamilton
A young Lewis Hamilton.
“The number 44 has always brought me luck, although I chose to have it as my travelling companion for another reason: my father’s Vauxhall Cavalier had a license plate that read F44. At first, he had this idea and made me choose it as my number, which later turned out to be very lucky for us.” Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton in kart and in F1.
"My beginnings? We started with nothing, my father had four jobs to keep me racing and I slept on a sofa. We dreamed of doing something, something completely out of our reach: racing in Formula 1. For a family with little money it seemed like a crazy thing to do. People sneered at us, they considered us caricatures and we always kept our heads down but we also carried on our battle on the track, always. Those who judged us then, I wonder if they look at us with anger now or if they have changed and think 'good for them' ..." Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton returns to the garage in the Mercedes WO8 for a tyre change during day three of Formula One winter testing at Circuit de Catalunya on 01 March 2017 in Montmelo, Spain. Photo by Dan Istitene / Getty Images.
"The best moment is not when you win and everyone hugs you. The best moment is the morning of the race, when you wake up and you shit yourself. That feeling of having done everything possible and being ready. And that feeling is something that those who play dirty will not experience." Lewis Hamilton
"In 2001, Nico and I had a non-competitive kart. In Kerpen however I showed off, Michael was racing against us and, at the end of the Grand Prix, he came closer. He told me: ‘what a great race you did.’ Schumacher who complimented me, a nice memory." Lewis Hamilton.
"I knew he would be difficult to beat, even before the debut. But I felt I could do it. Ron Dennis told me, before the first race in Australia, not to be disappointed if Alonso had torn me apart. But I knew that wasn't going to happen." Lewis Hamilton.
In Montreal, in 2007, Lewis Hamilton wins the first F1 Grand Prix of his brilliant career!
"When my contract with McLaren was about to expire in 2012, I started looking around to understand how to manage my future. I took notes on the pros and cons of each team, but it was Ross Brawn who convinced me to choose Mercedes. They, at the time, were something like the fifth team on the grid and had just returned to Formula 1. Brawn came to my house for tea and explained to me the projects they had planned to improve the competitiveness of the Silver Arrows. It seemed surreal to me, also because they were struggling a lot with Schumacher, but in the end he convinced me. Later Niki Lauda also called me and reassured me about Brawn's ability to rebuild the team. Their joint effort brought me to Mercedes." Another stimulus came from the history of motorsport itself, as told by the seven-time World Champion: "I saw drivers like Rossi and Schumacher move to a team that wasn't winning at that time: the idea of building something special in that team was exciting. Joining a team that was already winning gives less passion. Obviously, I couldn't know what would happen but I believed that, sooner or later, we would achieve something important thanks to the choices we made. The first victory in a Grand Prix came in 2013, which was a very competitive year, then we entered the V6 era during which we won everything." Lewis Hamilton
Excerpt from an interview by Gianluca Gasparini for the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ on July 11, 2019.
We sit on his left and begin the interview by taking out a piece of paper with the lap times from the Spanish Grand Prix last May. He looks curiously, trying to understand. The two laps (53 and 54) following the safety car's return to the pits are highlighted. In the first he lapped in 1'19"850, the best of the others in 1'21"217. In the second in 1'18"492, the ones following him in 1'21"362. In two laps the Englishman beat Valtteri Bottas by 4"237, with the same cars. Another planet. He picks up the piece of paper. He smiles, almost with modesty.
Now he understands. Lewis, do those two laps mean that you can still make the difference in this F.1 with talent alone?
"Yes, absolutely! You can. Or at least, some can. If you prepare the car well, adapt it to your style, you can get something more out of it. And to tell the truth, in the last two years I've been driving a car that we weren't happy with, fighting on the limit and even managing to win. It's not just the driving. It's the work with the engineers, sorting out the set-up, the braking, the gear ratios, how you conserve the tyres, how you push in certain corners and not in others: it all adds up over the weekend and finds its fulfillment in the race."
In Canada, when Vettel came back on track, you made the right decision in a second. But the same happens when you have to attack, like in Monza last year. What makes you so sure?
"It's something natural but it also depends on experience, on having tried: I've made a lot of mistakes, I've been here for a long time ... But it also happened when I was a boy, when I started with karts and I had a used one because we didn't have the money: I was always at the limit and so I had to choose the best solution on the fly. I worked for years to have all the right elements at the top: aggressive or thoughtful when needed."
What is your relationship with your technicians? Do you ever argue?
"I challenge them every day. In McLaren it was difficult. There were things I wanted, I knew they would work. But at the beginning there was Alonso in the team, a two-time world champion and they followed him. Then I was always perceived as a young driver. When I arrived at Mercedes, however, they listened to me a lot. I certainly never led them down the wrong path ... I was able to express myself on everything. When I spoke to Aldo (Costa, Mercedes technical director until 2017) and I said ‘why do we paint under the bottom? It's not necessary’, the next time they had changed. The biggest clashes with the technicians, in which we remain in our positions because we are all stubborn, come when they trust the computer data too much while I translate the sensations as a driver. It's a satisfaction, because all these engineers have studied a lot and are super intelligent, when the driver is right and can throw out an ‘I told you so’, it's so much fun ..."
If you had to divide Lewis Hamilton as a 2019 driver into percentages: how much talent, how much hard work and how much tactical intelligence?
"For me, talent contains tactical intelligence. Then, if you have a lot of it, you can decide to work a little or a lot. Senna and Schumacher had a great work ethic and that's why they achieved so much success. I aim for that kind of attitude. I don't know how to translate it into a percentage but in F1 I discovered that, even when I won, I had to work a lot. People think it's useless. Even my brother tells me: ‘you're lucky with that talent.’ But it's not enough. Everything that you don't see, the training, the endless meetings with the technicians. I'm reserved about this and I don't talk about it often."
Some time ago you said you would like to drive single-seaters with V12 engines and manual gearbox: is this to compare yourself to other phenomena of the past?
"No, I don't want to make comparisons. We are all unique in our own way: there is no other me, there is no other you. There are similarities but you can't compare musicians from the 60s with those of today, everything is so different. Humanity has moved forward, we are a more sophisticated species than in the past. But I was born in the 80s and I saw my father driving with a manual gearbox. It's more difficult, I would like it for that reason. Today we have hybrid V6 engines and that's great, F1 is rightly moving towards respect for the environment. But I miss the noise of the past, I miss it. I'll never forget when I went to Spa with dad in 1996 and saw Michael Schumacher coming out of the first corner: it was like a low-flying jet passing by. I jumped: ‘wooooow!’ My stomach knotted and I got goosebumps, I went crazy."
He gets the Spanish Grand Prix slip back and looks at it for a long time. "It's interesting that someone noticed it." It would have been difficult otherwise.
“I thought back to Silverstone in 2008. It took very little to lose the car and probably destroy it. Every time you went into a corner you could find more water than the previous lap. That's the essence of racing, being on the limit always hanging by a thread risk after risk.” Lewis Hamilton after the pole position in Styria in 2020.
Lewis Hamilton with Max Verstappen.
“I’d be more than happy to race against Max (Verstappen) in the same car. That would be wonderful. I don’t think he wants me to be his teammate.” Lewis Hamilton on Red Bull rumours
Lewis Hamilton prepares to drive during final practice for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on 13 May 2017 in Montmelo, Spain. Photo by Dan Istitene / Getty Images.
"There has never been a driver like me." Speaking to Formula 1 Magazine Lewis Hamilton, 38, responded in this way to those who pointed out that, in the history of the premier class, no driver with at least 300 races under his belt has ever managed to win a Grand Prix after having exceeded the fateful quota in question.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, with Charles Leclerc, Ferrari.
“If I could sit down with the fans over there, I would support Charles (Leclerc). I’m a Ferrari fan.” Lewis Hamilton, back in 2012
Lewis Hamilton in his red Ferrari.
Interviewed by Sky Sport F1, Hamilton recounted his relationship with Italy and Ferrari: "for so many years, when I came to Monza walking past the fans ... I could hear them saying 'come to Ferrari!' That warmed my heart, but it's quite incredible that I've never driven for Ferrari in so many years. Because it's a dream for anyone, a goal to achieve. It's never really been possible and I'll never know exactly why." Hamilton's story at Ferrari is destined to remain a story of ‘ifs’, of ‘who knows’. Paths that have never really crossed, except for business related to the range of road-going Reds. "I wish them the best and in my near future I will continue to prevent them from winning the world championship. I've seen photos of their drivers and red is always red. I've got a couple of Ferraris at home. I can drive those, but not the Ferrari F1."
Lewis Hamilton looking at a Ferrari F1.
"To race for Ferrari? Of course it would have been nice to race for Ferrari during my career, but Mercedes is my family. I will always be a Mercedes driver, as Stirling Moss was." Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, drives down the pit road during free practice 2 ahead of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit on 21 November 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Jeff Speer / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton spoke in Bahrain about his future at Maranello in 2025: "it was an opportunity that I wanted to seize and then all the drivers wonder what it feels like to wear the red suit. I have an excellent relationship with Vasseur and I will try to learn Italian. What will it be like at Ferrari? Every driver wonders what it feels like to wear the red suit, the team hasn't achieved great results since 2007 and this also stimulates me. As a kid, in video games I always chose Michael Schumacher. Maranello? I've never been there, being a Mercedes driver it didn't seem right to me. The relationship with Fred Vasseur? It's excellent, I raced for him before arriving in Formula 1. I've always considered him a good manager and I always thought he could get to F1. Italian? In these years I've never managed to learn another language, but I'll try. As a kid, when I drove karts in Italy, I learned a few phrases."
Quotes and interviews about Lewis Hamilton
British Junior Go Kart racer Lewis Hamilton, aged 10, ready for a drive at Kimbolton race track in England on 19 December 1995. Photo by Philip Brown / Popperfoto / Getty Images.
"I remember the fight well, I remember how Lewis instinctively knew how to position the kart. He was 11 years old, so he had been racing for a couple of years. He was quite small, he was certainly quick but the way he was able to position the kart gave him an advantage and it was something that set him apart. I remember Lewis's dad Anthony was there supporting him and I remember talking to him about it after the race. He was one of the stars. If you look at that picture, no one knew who he was then. Now we all know." Allan McNish remembers the 1996 ‘Autosport International Show’, when a young Lewis Hamilton took on F1 drivers for the first time
Lewis Hamilton fighting with Fernando Alonso when they were at McLaren.
“I was in the middle of it all and I can say that they hated each other at the end of that season. Lewis Hamilton knew he had the protection of McLaren, Dennis and the English media. Fernando, on the other hand, was the champion, the driver of the moment, but he was in an English team with a strong English driver. In the second half of the season the relationship deteriorated and Fernando was right, Ron wanted Hamilton to win the world championship. The two drivers did not work together, each one was as if he had his own team. We had the best car and the best drivers, but we did not win because we were busy with internal situations and Ferrari fooled us.” Marc Priestley, former McLaren mechanic
Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.
Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton fighting at Mercedes.
“I had beaten the most difficult driver to beat and then they tell me: ‘Lewis Hamilton will come in his place.’ I had no negativity towards him. He was already world champion and I had only won once in F1. But I accepted the challenge. 2013 was really easy, as we were not fighting for victories. We were friends, so the start was positive. But in 2014 we were fighting for Grands Prix and the championship, there was a lot at stake. We both dreamed of winning with Mercedes, so the friendship was compromised. There are also many untold stories. Maybe in 10, 20 or 30 years we will reveal them.” Nico Rosberg
Toto Wolff, his son Jack and Susie Stoddart with Niki Lauda’s 1972 Ferrari F1 car in 2022.
"They (Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg) had become too opportunistic, putting their own goals before those of the team with no respect for the fact that there were a thousand people working for them. I had to show that I would no longer allow that behavior. After the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix, I asked both drivers to walk out of the engineering briefing. I said to them: ‘look at everyone in the room, imagine them at home with their families and realize what you are making us look like.’ I used harsh words that I cannot repeat. Everyone, from the drivers to the engineers, was staring at the floor that day. I said: ‘next time you want to throw each other off the road, think about all the faces here and then you will think twice.’ Then I added that, if it happened again, I would not hesitate to replace them: ‘don’t challenge me on this, if I were you I wouldn’t want to find out what I am capable of.’“ Toto Wolff
Toto Wolff chasing Lewis Hamilton …
"My relationship with Hamilton in late 2016? We met that December, almost reluctantly, at the Christmas party at my house in Oxfordshire. We were deciding whether or not to continue working together. We were in my kitchen and I made an analogy that my wife Susie didn’t like very much. I told him that, even if Susie and I disagreed about something in the future, it would never occur to me to divorce. And it was the same with him. I didn’t want a divorce because for me he was the best driver. I wanted him with me and I wanted to make sure he had the best car. We started that argument at loggerheads and then, after four or five hours in the kitchen, we were on a completely different level. A purely commercial relationship had become a personal relationship. Now he is a friend. It doesn’t mean we don’t argue any more, but now Lewis’s success is the team’s success and the team’s success is Lewis’s success.” Toto Wolff
Max Verstappen driving the Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton driving the Mercedes battle for position during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on 12 December 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Joe Portlock / Formula 1 via Getty Images.
“If I think about that last lap that gave me the joy of my life, I remember that at that moment I was nervous, I had cramps and muscle spasms. I said to myself: ‘I have to overtake him, I have to overtake him, I can’t finish second. I only have one option, one move …’ And you did it. Right. Spot on. Even if it was very difficult. Of course facilitated by the race director, that Masi. But Verstappen’s story becomes even more exciting, it reveals many sensations useful for the future, for the world championship that is about to begin, for the duel that we will experience: “I still experience those cramps now, if I think about them. It’s one of the most painful things if you go full throttle. But I saw that straight in front of me, that bend arrived that could launch my overtaking. It happened …” Max Verstappen on Abu Dhabi 2021
Lewis Hamilton dedicated the Monaco win to hero Niki Lauda in May 2019. He pointed to Lauda’s name, which graced the back of his one-off red helmet, after he fended off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to claim a nail-biting victory, his third on Monte Carlo’s famous streets. Lauda, Mercedes’ non-executive chairman, died on Monday, aged 70. Hamilton, whose team all wore red caps in tribute to Niki, said he planned to phone the late Austrian’s wife Birgit on Sunday night. He also confirmed he will attend Lauda’s funeral in Vienna on Wednesday. “I definitely felt like Niki was racing with me. That was for you Niki. Your fighting spirit was right there with me every step of the way. I know he was looking down and taking his hat off to us. It was the hardest race I have ever had, it was the biggest challenge I have had. It has been such a hard week, emotionally. I just wanted to do the job and deliver it for Niki. When I was driving I was like, what would Niki do? As a driver, my goal is to be respected as Niki was. He was a hero to so many. I cannot wait to give my dad a call and see what he made of it. I am sure I will get a chance to speak to Birgit too after the race, to let her know how much I appreciated her support. She kept us connected.”
"Even in an uncompetitive car Hamilton manages to be the best driver in the world, because he is very fast and doesn’t make any compromises. Lewis' ambitions are very high. His arrival shows that he wanted to test himself. He will give a lot of motivation to the team as well as making it clear what the weak points are. He is exactly what a team needs." Niki Lauda
Michael Schumacher, Riccardo Patrese and a model of the team's main sponsor Benetton at the 1993 Portuguese Grand Prix.
"Schumi better than Hamilton: he didn't always have the best car." Riccardo Patrese in October 2020
Lewis Hamilton in his black Mercedes at the 2020 Styrian Grand Prix.
"I don't really like Hamilton as a character, I didn't like that he asked Mercedes to make the car black. It was a disappointment for me. In Toto Wolff's place I would have made it in half, half white and half black. It would have been a much more effective and positive message. More intelligent. I'm tired of people who fuel the problem between black and white. Also because in races, at the finish line when the flag drops, white, black, green or yellow, I don't care. The important thing is that people are polite. I don't like the way he dresses. Sometimes he seems completely out of his mind. It's his way, of course, everyone does as he sees fit. He doesn't need to be noticed or prove anything. Also because I don't understand what he wants to prove by dressing that way. But, as a driver, I have nothing to say." Rene' Arnoux
Gerhard Berger with Lewis Hamilton.
"Everyone always asks me to compare this or that driver with him and I have always answered that no one was as good as Senna. But now Hamilton, in my opinion, has reached that level. There have been great champions before and after Ayrton, like Piquet, Lauda, Prost, Schumacher, but no one for me was as great as Senna. And now Hamilton has reached his level." Hamilton has reached Senna in terms of performance but doesn’t have, for obvious reasons, the aura of legend that hovers around the Brazilian. "From that point of view Ayrton is still a step up, for the personality and charisma he had and for the tragic way in which he disappeared but, if we analyse the performances on the track, Lewis is putting together pole position after pole position and victory after victory just like Ayrton did." Gerhard Berger, the former McLaren driver, in April 2019 compared the Englishman with the Brazilian legend, with whom he raced from 1991 to 1993.
Michael Schumacher with Lewis Hamilton at the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix.
“Hamilton can break my records. I am quite comfortable that someone, one day, can break them. Nobody thought and I didn’t think either that I could surpass Fangio’s five titles and then I did it. And I even increased it to seven. Records are made to be broken and I am quite comfortable that one day that will happen. It could be Lewis or anyone else, it could be someone from the present or the future who does it or who will do it. I have no problem with that.” Michael Schumacher in 2008
Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton, the last two world champions with McLaren, at the Autosport Awards on December 01, 1996.
“Lewis’ successes are really impressive. Everyone can see how hungry he is, that’s very important. After the titles in ’98 and ’99 I was determined to make it a hat-trick in 2000, but that didn’t happen. After that year I didn’t feel the same as before, that’s why I quit. Some drivers are happy after winning a world championship, others are even hungrier. Schumacher motivated himself like no other driver in the world. Only a few drivers show such hunger and Hamilton is one of them.” Mika Hakkinen
Damon Hill with Lewis Hamilton.
"Hamilton, unlike Michael, has created a space for himself where he can step away from Formula 1, because if you only do Formula 1 you can burn yourself out and he doesn't look burned out to me."
Lewis Hamilton having fun in Brazil.
He looks like he's as fresh as a daisy. There were times when Michael was in tears from the pressure and then, if you've seen the Schumacher documentary recently, it reveals the pressure he was under and the responsibility he felt. It's exhausting, but you have to have a balance in your life." Damon Hill in October 2021
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.
"I think Vettel is a good driver, but I don’t see him as a four-time world champion. Unlike Lewis Hamilton, who has much more talent, I think he is massively overrated. Vettel is good when he runs in the lead and has no rivals in front of him, while Lewis is totally focused on the race, focusing on the other’s advantage. Unfortunately, when Seb does the same thing he inevitably ends up crashing into someone. Hamilton is in another category, but he’s not yet at the level of Schumacher and I think he’s not even close. Michael worked every day, like Senna, while Lewis has his days off. In the two years of cohabitation at McLaren, for example, I would almost say that Button has outperformed him. Michael, on the other hand, has never faced a situation of this kind since his level was constantly higher." Eddie Irvine
Alex Zanardi with Lewis Hamilton.
"That I would like to have two feet, it will surprise no one, but between two normal ones and just one of Hamilton, boia (damn) if I would settle!!" Alex Zanardi
Jenson Button (top) of Great Britain and McLaren Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton (bottom) of Great Britain and McLaren Mercedes sit side by side in their cars during winter testing at the Circuito de Jerez on 08 February 2010 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Photo by Hoch Zwei / Getty Images.
Alonso revealed who, in his opinion, comes out on top in the duel between the legends Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton: “it’s difficult to say who is harder to beat. They raced in different eras and with very different cars in terms of performance. However I remember that Michael, as a driver, was very difficult to beat. He always had something extra. Lewis is very good and is the best of his generation, but he didn’t win the world championship when he had Jenson Button as a teammate at McLaren and, in 2016, he lost the title to teammate Nico Rosberg. This has never happened to Michael. He has always won: so, for me he is a step above Hamilton.” Fernando Alonso in October 2020
A 12 year old George Russell meeting Lewis Hamilton in 2010 at a McLaren factory tour.
“I always thought Michael Schumacher was the best Formula 1 driver ever, but after racing alongside Lewis Hamilton this season I realized I was right.” George Russell
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
“Hamilton has won more world titles than anyone else in recent years, but that doesn’t determine the greatness of a driver. He is undoubtedly one of the best, but is he the best of his generation? I don’t know. Maybe it’s Fernando Alonso, he could have won seven or eight world titles if he had been in the right team.” Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton and Bernie Ecclestone attend the F1 party hosted by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity on 04 July 2007 in London, England. Photo by Dave M. Benett / Getty Images.
“Schumi was more or less alone when he was in the car, Hamilton instead has people who can help him explain the tire pressure or the speeds to keep in the corners.” Bernie Ecclestone underlined how the queen of motorsport, like her drivers, has changed over time. “Just think about the way Hamilton dresses. If I didn’t know he was a driver I would never think that, while a Nelson Piquet or a Schumacher when you saw them you knew they were drivers because they were dressed for the role.” Bernie Ecclestone in October 2020
Jeremy Clarkson hits out at Lewis Hamilton after recent behaviour: “he’s changed.” By Alex Harrington on November 01, 2021.
According to Clarkson’s Farm presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who has dubbed the racing driver “woke,” Lewis Hamilton “has changed.” Hamilton is currently attempting to win his eighth F1 Drivers’ Championship and, if successful, will become the first to do so.
After coming second in Turkey and first in the United States, Verstappen has extended his lead over Hamilton by 12 points. Despite his recent winning, he was only able to come fifth at Istanbul Park while grabbing second place at the Circuit of the Americas.
While the legendary Formula 1 driver has become one of the most successful racers in the sport’s history, he’s also become known for his charitable movements promoted through his social sites. He’s often discussed human and animal rights, as well as campaigning against racism and climate change.
The driver has been with UNICEF since 2012 and is involved in a number of charity projects. Last year, he was named a United Nations ambassador for education as part of the organization’s ambassadors program.
But despite this, the outspoken Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson believes he has changed.
Clarkson wrote the following in his column for The Sun.
“Every race weekend, Lewis Hamilton gets out of his car and thanks the crowd – presumably hoping we at home can’t hear them booing.” “It happens everywhere he goes, whether he wins or loses.
“People love Max Verstappen but they’ve taken a noisy dislike to Lewis. The problem is that Lewis has changed.
“When he first came on to the scene he was bright and talented and normal – and everyone loved him.
“But then he decided to go woke and right-on and more politically correct than a student union AGM.
“After the murder of George Floyd, he had Mercedes paint the cars black, he talks about how he’s now green because he sold his jet and has urged everyone to be vegetarian.
“All this might work well on social media but in the real world, where people live, it doesn’t work at all.
“And this is a problem for the green movement. They get Lewis to be a mouthpiece thinking he’ll convert the rest of us.
“But instead, we all just want to throw something at him.”
Next weekend, he will be back on the track, where he will attempt to win his first race since September’s Russian Grand Prix as the F1 season continues into Mexico. This will be one of the five races remaining where he will be fighting to overtake Verstappen to be able to outcompete Michael Schumacher, who he currently ties with for most championships won (7).
But, this may not be easy for the British racer as Verstappen is the current leader and a favourite to win the F1 title this year. This could be a very exciting time in F1 history.
Maria Sharapova with Lewis Hamilton at Abu Dhabi in October 2015.
“I’ve known Lewis (Hamilton) for many years. I’ll always support him.” Maria Sharapova
Photo gallery
A young Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren garage.
“When I had signed into 1997 and then I went to McLaren, Prince Charles came to open up the factory. And that day I remember having my go-kart and I was sitting there.” Lewis Hamilton.
April 03, 1998 McLaren announced the signing of a 13-year old karting whiz kid, Lewis Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were first teammates in the year 2000, when they both raced for the same go-karting team.
Lewis Hamilton, Manor Motorsport, at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 7-8 August 2004. Photo by Paul Sutton / Sutton Images.
A pretty Marlboro girl at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 9-11 August 2002. Photo by Paul Sutton.
Kumho promotion girls at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 10 August 2003. Photo by Marco Miltenburg.
The fabulous ‘Kumho Tyres Girls’ at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 7-8 August 2004. Photo by Photo by Paul Sutton.
The fabulous ‘Kumho Tyres Girls’ at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 7-8 August 2004. Photo by Photo by Paul Sutton / Sutton Images.
The fabulous ‘Kumho Tyres Girls’ at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 7-8 August 2004. Photo by Photo by Paul Sutton.
The fabulous ‘Kumho Tyres Girls’ at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 7-8 August 2004. Photo by Photo by Paul Sutton.
The fabulous ‘Kumho Tyres Girls’ at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 7-8 August 2004. Photo by Photo by Paul Sutton / Sutton Images.
The fabulous ‘Kumho Tyres Girls’ at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 7-8 August 2004. Photo by Photo by Paul Sutton.
One of the fabulous ‘Kumho Tyres Girls’ at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 7-8 August 2004. Photo by Photo by Paul Sutton.
One of the fabulous ‘Kumho Tyres Girls’ at the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 7-8 August 2004. Photo by Photo by Paul Sutton.
Lewis Hamilton, ASM F3 Dallara, is interviewed beside some large breasted women after taking pole at the Marlboro Masters of F3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 10-12 June 2005. Photo by Edd Hartley / Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton with two large breasted women at Zandvoort, Holland, in June 2005.
Girls at Zandvoort in June 2005.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton, ASM F3 Dallara, celebrates with Kumho girls on the podium at the Marlboro Masters of F3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 12 June 2005. Photo by Edd Hartley / Sutton Images.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton, ASM F3 Dallara, celebrates with Kumho girls on the podium at the Marlboro Masters of F3 in Zandvoort, Holland, on 12 June 2005. Photo by Edd Hartley / Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso pose for the media during the launch of the McLaren Mercedes MP4-22 at Hemisferic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, on 15 January 2007 in Valencia, Spain. Photo by Paul Gilham / Getty Images.
Fernando Alonso of Spain and McLaren Mercedes has his picture taken by team mate Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain as they pose with models dressed as life savers during a ‘Vodafone meet the drivers’ photocall on St Kilda Beach on 15 March 2007 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
On March 18, 2007 in Australia Lewis Hamilton makes his F1 debut with McLaren.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-22, at the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, on Sunday 27 May 2007. Photo by Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton and Kirtsy Gallacher at Brunswick Square in London, Great Britain, on 21 June 2007. Photo by Gianfranco Calcagno / Film Magic.
Lewis Hamilton and Hofit Golan attend the F1 party hosted by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity at The Worx on 04 July 2007 in London, England. Photo by Dave M. Benett / Getty Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, England, on Sunday 08 July 2007. Photo by Edd Hartley / Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton and German top model Eva Padberg attend the Hugo Boss fashion show held at Brandenburg Gate on 12 July 2007 in Berlin, Germany. Photo by Vladimir Rys / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, with a lady at the Australian Grand Prix during the qualifying day at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday 15 March 2008. Photo by Sutton Images.
Victoria Silvstedt and Lewis Hamilton attend the Amber Fashion Show and Auction held at the Meridien Beach Plaza on May 23, 2008 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Photo by Dave Benett / Amber Fashion / Getty Images.
Victoria Silvstedt and Lewis Hamilton attend the Amber Fashion Show and Auction held at the Meridien Beach Plaza on May 23, 2008 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Photo by Dave Benett / Amber Fashion / Getty Images.
Nicole Scherzinger (USA), Pussycat Dolls Singer and girlfriend of Lewis Hamilton, at the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, on Sunday 25 May 2008. Photo by Sutton Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada, on Sunday 8 June 2008. Photo by Sutton Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada, on Sunday 08 June 2008. Photo by Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger attend the dinner in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrating his 90th birthday, at Hyde Park in London, England, on 25 June 2008. Photo by Dave M. Benett / Getty Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, at the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday 07 September 2008. Photo by Sutton Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, at the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit on Sunday 28 September 2008. Photo by James Moy / Sutton Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, at the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway on Sunday 12 October 2008. Photo by Sutton Images.
A grid girl holds up a board for McLaren Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton before the start of the F1Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on 19 October 2008. Photo by David Davies - PA Images via Getty Images.
Nicole Scherzinger, girlfriend of Lewis Hamilton, leads the prayers for the right result for his friends and family in the McLaren garage at Interlagos in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 02 October 2008. Photo by Steven Tee / LAT Photographic.
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-23 Mercedes, 5th position, celebrates his world title with his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger at Interlagos in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 02 October 2008. Photo by Steven Tee / LAT Photographic.
McLaren teammates Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen walk to the drivers' parade during the European Grand Prix at Valencia Street Circuit on August 23, 2009. Photo by Rainer Schlegelmilch / Getty Images.
Former figure skating star Katarina Witt talks to Lewis Hamilton during the Mercedes-Benz presentation of the SLS AMG at the international motor show IAA on 15 September 2009 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Photo by Miguel Villagran / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes, drives during practice for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on 25 September 2009. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir on Sunday 14 March 2010. Photo by Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after finishing second in the British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone in Northampton, England, on 11 June 2010. Photo by Vladimir Rys / Bongarts / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton driving his McLaren MP4-26 at speed past two attractive women sunbathing on a terrace in bikinis during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo on 28th May 2011. Photo by Darren Heath / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, on the grid with a lady in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 25 November 2012. Photo by Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger attend the world premiere of 'Jack Reacher' at Odeon Leicester Square on 10 December 2012 in London, England. Photo by Fred Duval / Film Magic via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, takes part in a training and flying session with Red Arrows at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, England, on 21 June 2013. Photo by Steve Etherington / Getty Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, is seen at the drivers parade before the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium, on 25 August 2013. Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, at the Korean Grand Prix at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, South Korea, on Sunday 06 October 2013. Photo by Sutton Images.
Grid girl for Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday 11 May 2014. Photo by Patrik Lundin / Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton celebrates his victory by soaking a grid girl with champagne at the Spanish Grand Prix on 11 may 2014.
Lewis Hamilton celebrates his victory by soaking a grid girl with champagne at the Spanish Grand Prix on 11 may 2014.
Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger on May 22, 2014 in Cap d'Antibes, France. Photo by Gisela Schober / Getty images.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, 2nd position, hoses down some grid girls with champagne at Monte Carlo on Sunday 25 May 2014. Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Photographic.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, at the Grand Prix of Germany on 20 July 2014. Photo by Hoch Zwei / Corbis via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, drives during practice ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on 22 August 2014 in Spa, Belgium. Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, celebrates on the podium with the grid girls and the champagne at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on Sunday 07 September 2014. Photo by Sutton Images.
A grid girl stands next to Lewis Hamilton 's starting position on the grid before the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on 09 November 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Paul Gilham / Getty Images.
A grid girl stands next to Lewis Hamilton 's starting position on the grid before the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on 09 November 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images.
Jeremy Irvine, Ellie Goulding, Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger attend the British Fashion Awards at the London Coliseum on 01 December 2014 in London, England. Photo by David M. Benett / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton stops for a tyre change during final practice for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia, on 14 March 2015. Photo by Clive Mason Getty Images.
Liu Siying was pictured grimacing as Lewis Hamilton sprayed champagne at her face after winning the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday 12 April 2015. Photo by Getty Images.
Suki Waterhouse and Lewis Hamilton at the Burberry Menswear Spring Summer 2016 show at Kensington Gardens on 15 June 2015 in London, England. Photo by David M. Benett / Getty Images for Burberry.
A grid girl poses with the race number of Lewis Hamilton before the Formula One Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 05, 2015. Photo by Charles Coates / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton looks at the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel in parc ferme after qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of Russia at Sochi Autodrom on October 10, 2015.
Lewis Hamilton with grid girls in Sochi at the Russian Grand Prix on 9-11 October 2015. Today it was announced that the glamorous pit girls will not feature in the upcoming racing season.
Lewis Hamilton and a grid girl at the Mexican Grand Prix at Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sunday 01 November 2015. Photo by Mirko Stange / Sutton Images.
A grid girl poses with the race number of Lewis Hamilton before the Mexican Grand Prix at Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sunday 01 November 2015. Photo by Rainer Schlegelmilch / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton and Petra Nemcova attend amfAR's 23rd Cinema Against AIDS Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d'Antibes, France, on 19 May 2016. Photo by Dave M. Benett / amfAR16 / Wire Image.
Lewis Hamilton during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, on Thursday 26 May 2016. Photo by Manuel Goria / Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton on track during qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, on 28 May 2016. Photo by Lars Baron / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton stands on top of a fence with a Great Britain flag to celebrate his win with the British fans after the Formula One Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 10, 2016. Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton on track during qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on 23 July 2016 in Budapest, Hungary. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton during the drivers parade at the Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring, Hungary, on Sunday 24 July 2016. Photo by Gasperotti / Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton walks to the drivers parade before the Formula One Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring in Budapest, Hungary, on 24 July 2016. Photo by Charles Coates / Getty Images.
Bella Hadid and Lewis Hamilton attend the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2016 at the Tate Modern on 06 September 2016 in London, England. Photo by David M. Benett / Getty Images.
(L-R) Martha Hunt, Taylor Swift, Tommy Hilfiger, Dee Hilfiger and Lewis Hamilton attend the TOMMYNOW Women's Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week at Pier 16 on 09 September 2016. Photo by Neilson Barnard / Getty Images.
A grid girl hands a microphone to Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, 3rd position, on the podium at Suzuka Circuit, Japan, on Sunday 09 October 2016. Photo by Steven Tee / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, on the grid with a grid girl at the Mexican Grand Prix at Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sunday 30 October 2016. Photo by Mirko Stange / Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton celebrates his win on the podium after the Formula One Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico, on 30 October 2016. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton during practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 11 November 2016. Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 26 November 2016. Photo by Lars Baron / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton, Sofia Richie and Ilona Smet attend the Balmain Menswear Fall Winter 2017-2018 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on 21 January 2017. Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff / Getty Images.
TV personality Kris Jenner, Corey Gamble, Dee Ocleppo, fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and Lewis Hamilton attend the Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2017 Fashion Show in Venice, California, on 08 February 2017. Photo by Christopher Polk / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton returns to the garage for a tyre-change during the launch of the Mercedes Formula One team's 2017 car, the W08, at Silverstone Circuit in Northampton, England, on 23 February 2017. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton strokes his car in parc ferme during the Formula One Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on 09 April 2017. Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton leaves the garage during qualifying for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain, on 13 May 2017. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton during final practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, on 08 July 2017. Photo by Clive Mason Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, has his photo taken with a grid girl at Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, on Sunday 09 July 2017. Photo by Charles Coates / LAT Images.
The Mercedes team and a grid girl around the car of Lewis Hamilton on the grid in Monza, Italy, on Sunday 03 September 2017. Photo by Steve Etherington / LAT Images.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel celebrate on the podium after the Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on 03 September 2017. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton with the grid girls at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Italy, on Sunday 03 September 2017. Photo by Kym Illman / Sutton Images.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 17, 2017. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton and Rita Ora attend the LOVE magazine Miu Miu London Fashion Week Party on September 18, 2017. Photo by David M. Benett / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton with a grid girl and a sombrero during the drivers parade at the Mexican Grand Prix at Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sunday 29 October 2017. Photo by Kym Illman / Sutton Images.
Lewis Hamilton with Maria Sharapova at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in November 2017.
Lewis Hamilton and Irina Shayk attend a drinks reception ahead of The Fashion Awards 2017 at Royal Albert Hall in London, England, on 04 December 2017. Photo by David M. Benett / Getty Images.
In this handout image provided by Monster Energy, four-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton hones his snowboarding skills with some of the world's best riders in January 2018 in Niseko, Hokkaido Island, Japan. Photo by Nathan Gallagher / Monster Energy via Getty Images. Lewis Hamilton headed to the deep snow of Japan last week to hone his snowboarding skills with some of the best riders in the World. Hamilton, an accomplished snowboarder himself, used the opportunity to push the limits of his ability under the watchful eye of acclaimed snowboarders Kevin Backstrom, Tor Lundstrom and Halldor Helgason. The crew headed to Hokkaido Island and spent time hiking in the mountains, riding in fresh powder, burning around on snow bikes and ski-doos and, when the snow turned to rain during the trip, Hamilton instigated a trip to the west coast of the island to spend the morning surfing in the Sea of Japan. Of his time in Japan, Hamilton said, "it was so good to be able to go on a trip like this at start of 2018. It was so enjoyable to hang out with some incredible athletes and push my skills on a board, the perfect preparation for the F1 season ahead." Tor Lundstrom said, "it was a great trip to be part of and Lewis's riding was impressive. Monster Energy always come up with cool projects and being able to ride with athletes from completely different disciplines was so much fun, I hope we get to ride together again." Photo by Nathan Gallagher / Monster Energy via Getty Images.
In this handout image provided by Monster Energy, four-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton hones his ski-doo skills in January 2018 in Niseko, Hokkaido Island, Japan. Photo by Nathan Gallagher / Monster Energy via Getty Images.
In this handout image provided by Monster Energy, four-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton rides a snowbike in January 2018 in Niseko, Hokkaido Island, Japan. Photo by Nathan Gallagher / Monster Energy via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Great Britain chats with Kris Jenner as Dee Hilfiger and Tommy Hilfiger look on during the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, on 27 May 2018. Photo by Peter J Fox / Getty Images.
Tommy Hilfiger, Dee Ocleppo and Lewis Hamilton attend the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards at Brooklyn Museum in New York City on 04 June 2018. Photo by Kevin Mazur / Wire Image.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium with the samba girls and the champagne after the Brazilian Grand Prix at Autódromo José Carlos Pace on November 11, 2018. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium with the samba girls after the Brazilian Grand Prix at Autódromo José Carlos Pace on November 11, 2018. Photo by Manuel Goria / Sutton Images.
Serena Williams bumped into British racing driver Lewis Hamilton while shopping at XIV Karats LTD in Beverly Hills with her adorable daughter Alexis Olympia.
Gigi Hadid and Lewis Hamilton attend the Tommy Hilfiger TOMMYNOW Spring 2019 and Tommy X Zendaya premieres at Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, on 02 March 2019. Photo by Tim P. Whitby / Wire Image.
Janelle Monae, Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams and Harry Styles attend the Met Gala 2019 celebrating Camp Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on 06 May 2019. Photo by Kevin Mazur / MG19 / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton on his motor bike in the paddock at the Circuit de Monaco on 22 May 2019.
Lewis Hamilton inspects his Mercedes whilst his mechanics try to fix an issue with the car before the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on 09 June 2019. Photo by Peter J Fox / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 'controls' a Ferrari.
Lewis Hamilton during the Formula One Grand Prix of Styria at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, on 12 July 2020. Photo by Peter Fox / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton on the way to the grid before the Formula One Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring in Budapest, Hungary, on 19 July 2020. Photo by Clive Mason - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton’s helmet for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 11 – 13 September 2020.
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Great Britain after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 13, 2020. Photo by Peter Fox / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton celebrates in parc ferme after the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 28, 2021. Photo by Dan Istitene - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton launches off a raised kerb during the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy, on 18 April 2021. Photo by Bryn Lennon / Getty Images.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton takes the chequered flag after the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 18, 2021. Photo by Dan Istitene - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 12, 2021. Photo by Peter Van Egmond / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton waves to the crowd after finishing in fifth position in the sprint race ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 13 November 2021. Photo by Peter Fox / Getty Images.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 14 November 2021. Photo by Clive Mason – Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton lands on the run off area after a crash during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium, on 28 August 2022. Photo by Joe Portlock - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton acknowledges fans during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 launch party on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 05 November 2022. Photo by Clive Mason / Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on April 28, 2023. Photo by Alex Pantling / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton takes an ice bath in Monaco on May 28, 2023.
Sprint race winner Max Verstappen shakes hands with second placed Lewis Hamilton in parc ferme at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, on 19 October 2023. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 17, 2023. Photo by Chris Graythen / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton greets Maria Sharapova on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 26, 2023. Photo by Dan Istitene - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton talks with Naomi Campbell on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 26 November 2023. Photo by Dan Istitene - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton goes skydiving on December 22, 2023. Photo by Darshan Chokhani for Monster Energy.
Lewis Hamilton goes skydiving on December 22, 2023. Photo by Darshan Chokhani for Monster Energy.
Lewis Hamilton goes skydiving on December 22, 2023. Photo by Darshan Chokhani for Monster Energy.
Lewis Hamilton goes skydiving on December 22, 2023. Photo by Darshan Chokhani for Monster Energy.
Lewis Hamilton goes skydiving on December 22, 2023. Photo by Darshan Chokhani for Monster Energy.
Lewis Hamilton watches the podium celebrations after race 2 of the F1 Academy at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on 09 March 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo by Pauline Ballet - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc battle for track position during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 09 March 2024. Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton makes a pitstop during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 09, 2024. Photo by Peter Fox - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis took Kendall Jenner around the Miami F1 circuit in a Mercedes AMG GT R in May 2024.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, leads Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, during practice at the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco on May 25, 2024. Photo by Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images.
Maria Sharapova supporting Lewis Hamilton at Monaco in 2024.
Lewis Hamilton prepares to drive in the pitlane during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, on 29 June 2024. Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton enjoying his summer holidays in Mozambique, having landed in Bazaruto Island in August 2024.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, with Max Verstappen, Red Bull, at the Singapore Grand Prix on 20-22 September 2024.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, walks away from his car after retiring in the gravel during the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas on October 20, 2024. Photo by Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images.
Ayrton Senna driving the 1990 McLaren MP45 in 1991, Lewis Hamilton driving it on November 03, 2024 at Autódromo Interlagos in Brazil.
Lewis Hamilton drives the 1990 McLaren MP45 in tribute to the late Ayrton Senna on track prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 03 November 2024. Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton greets Viviane Senna after driving the 1990 McLaren MP45 in tribute to the late Ayrton Senna prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 03, 2024. Photo by Peter Fox / Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton acknowledges the car after driving the 1990 McLaren MP45 in tribute to the late Ayrton Senna on track prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 03, 2024. Photo by Peter Fox - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton got to do that run in Ayrton Senna's car in front of the Brazilian's sister Viviane.
Lewis Hamilton on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 21 November 2024. Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton leaves the garage during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 21, 2024. Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton during qualifying for the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 22, 2024. Photo by Simon Galloway / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 22, 2024. Photo by Jared C. Tilton - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton races through turn 1 during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 23, 2024. Photo by Jeff Speer / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG, with George Russell, Mercedes-AMG, pose for a group photo with colleagues, including Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Peter Bonnington, Senior Race Engineer Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on 05 December 2024. Photo by Colin McMaster / LAT Images for Extreme E.
Lewis Hamilton and a girl during previews ahead of F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi on December 05, 2024. Photo by Michael Potts / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 06, 2024. Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton during practice at F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi on December 06, 2024. Photo by Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton during practice at F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi on December 06, 2024. Photo by Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton during practice at F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi on December 06, 2024. Photo by Zak Mauger / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton fans show their support at the fanstage prior to final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on 07 December 2024. Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
4th placed Lewis Hamilton does donuts on track to celebrate his final race with Mercedes after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 08, 2024. Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton performs donuts on track to celebrate his final race with Mercedes after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 08, 2024. Photo by Lubomir Asenov / LAT Images.
4th placed Lewis Hamilton climbs from his car after performing donuts on track for his final Grand Prix with Mercedes at Abu Dhabi on December 08, 2024. Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1 via Getty Images.
Lewis Hamilton's long and intense farewell to his beloved Mercedes after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on 08 December 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Lubomir Asenov / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton bends down and gives his Mercedes one last hug after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on 08 December 2024. Photo by Sam Bloxham / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton with his hands on his Mercedes bids farewell to the car with which he won everything after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on 08 December 2024. Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton, still wearing his helmet and with ungloved hands resting on the car, bows his head in a moving final farewell to his great Mercedes with which he formed an invincible partnership for years and which allowed him to realise his childhood dream of becoming the most successful driver in the history of Formula 1. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on 08 December 2024. Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton greets his fans on the grid at the end of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 08, 2024. Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images.
Lewis Hamilton, for the last time in the Mercedes suit, greets the fans of the Silver Arrows after the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 08, 2024. Photo by Zak Mauger / LAT Images.
The first Christmas ‘in red’ for Lewis Hamilton, here with his new team mates Frederic Vasseur and Charles Leclerc.
Maranello, 20 January 2025. Lewis Hamilton's Scuderia Ferrari adventure is now underway. Photo by Ferrari.
“There are some days that you know you’ll remember forever and today, my first as a Scuderia Ferrari driver, is one of those days. I’ve been lucky enough to have achieved things in my career I never thought possible, but part of me has always held on to that dream of racing in red. I couldn’t be happier to realise that dream today. I’m incredibly grateful to John Elkann, Benedetto Vigna, Fred Vasseur and everyone at Ferrari for their trust in me and making me part of this family. I’m so excited to start this new era and to meet and work with a hugely talented and inspiring group of people. I’m dedicated to bringing everything I have to deliver for the team, the wider organisation and the fans. Today we start a new chapter in the history of this iconic team and I can’t wait to see what story we will write together.” Lewis Hamilton
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