Hamilton was born and raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. His father, Anthony Hamilton, is of Afro-Grenadian descent, and his mother, Carmen Larbalestier, is White British from Birmingham, making him mixed-race. Hamilton began his career in karting at age six, winning several national titles. In 1998, Ron Dennis signed him to the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme. After winning the Karting World Cup and European Championship in 2000, Hamilton progressed to junior formulae, where his successes included winning the Formula 3 Euro Series and the GP2 Series.
Hamilton signed for McLaren in 2007, becoming the first black driver to compete in Formula One at the Australian Grand Prix. In his rookie season, he won four Grands Prix and finished runner-up to Kimi Räikkönen by one point, tying with his teammate Fernando Alonso. Hamilton won his maiden title in 2008, becoming the then-youngest World Drivers' Champion. He achieved multiple race wins in each of his remaining four seasons at McLaren, including involvement in a four-way title battle in 2010.
Hamilton signed for Mercedes in 2013, partnering his old karting teammate Nico Rosberg. Following new engine regulations in 2014, Mercedes emerged as a dominant force. Hamilton won titles in 2014 and 2015, amidst a rivalry with Rosberg known as the Silver War. After Rosberg's retirement, Hamilton claimed his fourth and fifth titles in 2017 and 2018, overturning mid-season point deficits to Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari. He won his sixth title in 2019, and his record-equalling seventh in 2020, breaking several records including the all-time win record at the Portuguese Grand Prix. In 2021, Hamilton became the first driver to surpass 100 race wins and pole positions, finishing runner-up to Max Verstappen. After winless campaigns in 2022 and 2023, he took his record-breaking ninth British Grand Prix victory in 2024, his twelfth and final season with Mercedes. Hamilton signed for Ferrari in 2025, where he is contracted until at least the end of 2026.
Hamilton is regarded as one of the most complete drivers, known for his aggressive style, consistency, and exceptional wet-weather driving. He has been compared to Ayrton Senna in raw speed. Hamilton has been described as the best driver of his generation and one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. He has been credited with furthering Formula One's global following through his appeal to a broader audience, his high-profile lifestyle, and his environmental and social activism. Hamilton is a prominent advocate for racial justice and increased diversity in motorsport. He was listed in the 2020 issue of Time as one of the 100 most influential people globally and was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours.
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