Seven-Time World Champion · Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton

Seven world titles, more wins and poles than anyone who has ever raced. The official Hamilton collection: records, reinvention, and a career still being written in red.

Nationality
British
Born
7 January 1985 · Stevenage, England
Teams
McLaren · Mercedes · Ferrari
Championships
7 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017–2020)
Car number
44
Honour
Knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours
Graphic illustration of legendary seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton wearing his iconic red Scuderia Ferrari racing suit.
Seven-Time World Champion
2007 — Present
7
World Championships
106
Grand Prix Wins
104
Pole Positions
207
Podium Finishes

Who is Lewis Hamilton?

Lewis Hamilton (born 7 January 1985) is a British Formula 1 driver and seven-time World Champion, level with Michael Schumacher for the most titles in the sport's history. He holds the all-time records for race wins (106), pole positions (104) and podium finishes (207). The first Black driver to compete in Formula 1, he joined Ferrari in 2025 after twelve seasons with Mercedes.

Full name
Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton
Nationality
British
F1 career
2007–present
Best known for
Record seven world titles
Rider Profile

Lewis Hamilton: Full Biography

Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British racing driver and the most statistically successful competitor in Formula 1 history, holding the all-time records for wins, pole positions and podium finishes.

The Record Breaker Hamilton entered Formula 1 with McLaren in 2007 and became the first Black driver to race in the championship. He finished his rookie season one point off the title, then won it the following year with a last-lap overtake at the final corner in Brazil.

The Mercedes Era His move to Mercedes in 2013 preceded the most dominant partnership the sport has seen. Six titles followed between 2014 and 2020, the last of them equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven. In 2021 he became the first driver to pass both 100 wins and 100 pole positions.

A New Red Chapter Hamilton joined Ferrari for 2025 after twelve seasons with Mercedes. A winless first year in red was followed by his maiden Ferrari victory at Barcelona-Catalunya in June 2026. Away from the car he founded Mission 44 and chaired the Hamilton Commission, pushing for wider access to motorsport.

The Career

Three Chapters That Defined Lewis Hamilton

Chapter 01

The Rookie Who Wouldn't Wait

Hamilton arrived in Formula 1 alongside reigning double champion Fernando Alonso and refused to behave like a number two. He stood on the podium in each of his first nine races, led the championship for most of the season and lost it by a single point to Kimi Räikkönen. The following year he took the title at the final corner of the final lap in São Paulo, passing Timo Glock for the fifth place he needed. He was the youngest World Champion at the time, and the first Black driver ever to compete in the sport.

Lewis Hamilton driving for McLaren at the 2007 Belgian Grand Prix. McLaren MP4-22 · a debut like no other Photo: Lewis Hamilton driving for McLaren at the 2007 Belgian Grand Prix by Thom May / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · licence
Chapter 02

The Mercedes Dynasty

The 2014 engine regulations turned Mercedes into the benchmark, and Hamilton turned that advantage into history. Titles came in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 — the last of them equalling Michael Schumacher's seven. Along the way he broke the all-time win record at the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix and, in 2021, became the first driver to pass 100 wins and 100 pole positions. What separated him was not raw pace alone but consistency: seventeen podiums in a twenty-two-race season, again and again.

Lewis Hamilton Mercedes W08(Ank Kumar, Infosys Limited) Mercedes W05–W11 · the record years Photo: Lewis Hamilton Mercedes W08 by Ank kumar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · licence
Chapter 03

A New Red Chapter

Hamilton signed for Ferrari in 2025, ending twelve seasons with Mercedes and taking on the one challenge left: winning in red. The first year was the hardest of his career — sixth in the standings and, for the first time, a season without a single Grand Prix podium. The answer came on 14 June 2026 at Barcelona-Catalunya, where a three-stop strategy and a well-timed Virtual Safety Car stop delivered his 106th win, 686 days after his last.

Lewis Hamilton driving Ferrari F1 car during FP1 at 2025 Japanese GP Scuderia Ferrari · the second act Photo: Lewis Hamilton driving Ferrari F1 car at 2025 Japanese GP Liauzh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · licence
Career Timeline

Lewis Hamilton Career Timeline: 1985–Present

Born in Stevenage

Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is born on 7 January in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Signed by McLaren

Ron Dennis signs the 13-year-old karter to the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme.

Karting World Cup Champion

Wins both the Karting World Cup and the European Championship.

GP2 Series Champion

Takes the GP2 title at the first attempt after winning the 2005 Formula 3 Euro Series.

F1 Debut with McLaren

Podium on debut in Australia; nine podiums in nine races and second in the championship by one point.

First World Title

Wins the championship on the final lap of the final race in Brazil.

Signs for Mercedes

Leaves McLaren after fifteen years in the organisation to join Mercedes.

Start of the Mercedes Era

Eleven wins and a first title with Mercedes, the beginning of six championships in seven years.

Record-Equalling Seventh Title

Breaks the all-time win record in Portugal and equals Schumacher on seven championships.

Knighthood and 100 Wins

Knighted in the New Year Honours; becomes the first driver past 100 wins and 100 poles.

Record Ninth Silverstone Win

Wins the British Grand Prix for a ninth time — more than any driver at any single venue.

Signs for Ferrari

Joins Scuderia Ferrari, the first season of his career without a Grand Prix podium.

First Ferrari Victory

Wins the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on 14 June for his 106th career victory.

By the Numbers

Lewis Hamilton F1 Career Record, Season by Season

Lewis Hamilton season-by-season record: team, wins, poles, podiums, points and final standing.
SeasonTeam Wins Poles Podiums Points Pos.
2007 McLaren 4 6 12 109 2
2008 McLaren 5 7 10 98 1
2009 McLaren 2 4 5 49 5
2010 McLaren 3 1 9 240 4
2011 McLaren 3 1 6 227 5
2012 McLaren 4 7 7 190 4
2013 Mercedes 1 5 5 189 4
2014 Mercedes 11 7 16 384 1
2015 Mercedes 10 11 17 381 1
2016 Mercedes 10 12 17 380 2
2017 Mercedes 9 11 13 363 1
2018 Mercedes 11 11 17 408 1
2019 Mercedes 11 5 17 413 1
2020 Mercedes 11 10 14 347 1
2021 Mercedes 8 5 17 387.5 2
2022 Mercedes 0 0 9 240 6
2023 Mercedes 0 1 6 234 3
2024 Mercedes 2 0 5 223 7
2025 Ferrari 0 0 0 156 6
2026 Ferrari 1 0 5 169 2

Championship seasons are highlighted. Career totals: 106 wins · 104 pole positions · 207 podiums · 5,187.5 points from 391 Grand Prix entries. The 2026 season is still in progress; figures verified 28 July 2026.

Lewis Hamilton in his own words

In His Own Words
Driving a Scuderia Ferrari HP car for the first time was one of the best feelings of my life.
Lewis Hamilton · on his first test for Ferrari, 2025
Frequently Asked

Lewis Hamilton: Frequently Asked Questions

How many World Championships has Lewis Hamilton won?

Hamilton has won seven Formula 1 World Drivers' Championships — in 2008 with McLaren, then 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 with Mercedes. That equals Michael Schumacher's record.

How many Grands Prix has Lewis Hamilton won?

Hamilton has won 106 Grands Prix from 391 entries, the most in Formula 1 history. His most recent victory came at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on 14 June 2026, his first for Ferrari.

What records does Lewis Hamilton hold?

He holds the all-time records for race wins (106), pole positions (104) and podium finishes (207), and was the first driver to pass 100 of both wins and poles. He has also won the British Grand Prix nine times, more than any driver has won at a single venue.

Which teams has Lewis Hamilton driven for?

Three: McLaren (2007–2012), Mercedes (2013–2024) and Ferrari (2025–present). Six of his seven titles came at Mercedes.

When did Lewis Hamilton join Ferrari?

Hamilton moved to Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 season. His first year was the only one of his career without a Grand Prix podium; he took his maiden Ferrari win in June 2026 and is contracted through at least the end of 2027.

Why is Lewis Hamilton significant beyond his results?

He is the first and so far only Black driver in Formula 1 history. He chaired the Hamilton Commission into diversity in UK motorsport and founded Mission 44, and was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours.

How is Lewis Hamilton doing in the 2026 season?

He is second in the Driversu{2019} Championship on 169 points, with one win and five podiums from the opening eleven rounds — a clear recovery from a difficult first year at Ferrari.

Shop His Gear

Lewis Hamilton Collection

References

Sources & Further Reading

Every statistic on this page is drawn from the following records.

  1. Lewis Hamilton — official driver profile · Formula1.com (official)
  2. Lewis Hamilton — season-by-season statistics · StatsF1
  3. Lewis Hamilton driver database · Motor Sport Magazine
  4. 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix report · Formula1.com (official)
  5. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile · FIA, governing body records
  6. Mission 44 · Official foundation
  7. Lewis Hamilton · Wikipedia
  8. Lewis Hamilton (Q9673) · Wikidata entity record
  9. Lewis Hamilton — official site · Official

How this page is made

Rider profiles are compiled from official series records and cross-checked against independent statistical databases before publication.

Commercial disclosure. This page links to merchandise sold by Kozmozracing. Products are fan-made tributes inspired by motorsport history and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed from the rider, their estate, or any team.

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