2. Introduction
Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton :Born 7 January 1985 and raised
in Stevenage, Hertfordshire is a British racing driver currently competing in Formula
One for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. He is a seven
time Formula One World Champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers
in the history of the sport, and considered by some to be the greatest of all time. He won
his first World Drivers' Championship with McLaren in 2008, before moving
to Mercedes in 2013, with whom he has won a further six titles.
3. One of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport, Hamilton's
seven World Championship titles is the most of all time, as is his tally of 103
race victories, while he holds the other records for the all-time most career
points, the all-time most pole positions, the all-time most podium finishes,
the most grand slams in a season and the most points in a season.
4. The only child born to Anthony Hamilton, a black British man and Carmen Larbalestier,
a white British woman, Hamilton is mixed race but refers to himself as black. When he
was two years old, his parents separated and thus young Hamilton moved in with his
mother. While living with his mother, Hamilton and his half-sisters were together. When
he clocked 5, Hamilton took up Karate to defend himself from bullies.
Lewis Hamilton pictured at the age of eight after winning his first trophy.
Childhood
5. Hamilton got his first taste of car racing in 1991 when his father bought
him a radio-controlled car which he used in competing in the British
Radio Car Association Championship, where he finished second.
Hamilton soon became interested in racing and thus his father
promised to support him in his career, as long as he excelled at
school. Aside from racing, Hamilton was interested in associative
football and cricket in school. As a kid, Hamilton supported the English
club, Arsenal. He still supports the club.
6. Early career
1) 1993–2000: Karting
2) 2001–2005: Formula Renault and Formula Three
3) 2006 season: GP2
Formula One career
McLaren :
1) 2007–2008: Record-breaking rookie season and maiden
title
2) 2009–2012: Unsuccessful championship campaigns
with McLaren
Mercedes :
1) 2013–2016: Teammates with Rosberg, back-to-back
titles
2) 2017–present: Three titles in a row; most pole
positions
Rivalries
1) Fernando Alonso
2) Nico Rosberg
Career
7. Wealth and Income :
In 2015, Hamilton was ranked as the richest British sportsperson, with an
estimated personal fortune of £88 million. In 2018, it was reported that Hamilton
had a net worth of £159 million. Hamilton is currently the best-paid driver in
Formula One, and since joining Mercedes in 2013 has been one of the highest-
paid drivers on the grid.
Racist Treatment :
Considered to be first and only black driver to race in Formula One, Hamilton has
been subject to racist abuse throughout his career. In 2008, Hamilton was heckled
and otherwise abused during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya by
several Spanish spectators who wore black face paint and black wigs, as well as
shirts bearing the words "Hamilton's family”.
Public Image
8. Philanthropy :
In January 2020, Hamilton pledged to donate US$500,000
(approximately £383,000) to a variety of causes relating to the ongoing
bushfire crisis in Australia. The money is intended to go towards the
fire services and animal welfare charities.
UNICEF :
In 2012, Hamilton began working with the United Nations Children's
Fund (UNICEF). In March 2012, Hamilton travelled to
the Philippines where he made a short film about Manila's street
children. The film was shown on ITV1 during Soccer Aid and helped
raise over £4.9 million for UNICEF. In October 2012, while in India for
the Grand Prix, Hamilton visited a UNICEF-funded newborn care unit
and nutrition center. Hamilton said: "As a sportsman in the public eye, I
know I have a role to play in helping to tell the stories of the world's
most vulnerable children and I jumped at the chance to be able to do
that again after a visit to Manila.
9. Charity Work
In 2020, Hamilton partnered with charity campaign #TOGETHERBAND to help
promote the United Nations' 17 Global Goals. As part of his campaign work,
Hamilton visited Alperton Community School in North West London to speak to
the students about the importance of education. Hamilton is
GOAL Ambassador, focusing on the fight to provide quality education to all
children.
Over the past decade, Hamilton has made time for a variety of good causes,
such as making hospital visits to sick children. He has invited fans, young
people, and their families to join him at Grand Prix races and social events.
10. In 2013, he became the Global Education Ambassador for Save the Children,
supporting and promoting its education campaigns. Two years later, Hamilton
became the first ambassador for the Invictus Games Foundation, supporting
wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamilton's Neat Burger restaurant donated free
meals to frontline NHS workers. Neat Burger also launched the "Kids Eat Free"
scheme, serving free meals to school children during the half-term break.
11. Lewis Hamilton 7 times World Champion –
2008
2014
2015
2017
2018
2019
2020
