Born and raised in Stevenage, Hamilton began his career in karting at age six, winning national titles. He attracted the attention of Ron Dennis, who signed him to the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme in 1998. After winning the Karting World Cup and European Championship in 2000, Hamilton progressed to junior formulae. 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 teammate Fernando Alonso. Hamilton won his maiden title in 2008, becoming the then-youngest World Drivers' Champion. He achieved multiple race wins in his remaining four seasons at McLaren, including involvement in a four-way title battle in 2010.
Hamilton signed for Mercedes in 2013 to partner his old karting teammate Nico Rosberg, ending his fifteen-year association with McLaren. Following his maiden victory with the team at the Hungarian Grand Prix, new engine regulations in 2014 saw Mercedes emerge as the dominant force in Formula One. Over the next three seasons, Hamilton and Rosberg won 51 of 59 Grands Prix amidst their rivalry, with Hamilton winning titles in 2014 and 2015. After Rosberg's retirement, Hamilton twice overturned mid-season point deficits to Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari to claim his fourth and fifth titles in 2017 and 2018. He won his sixth title in 2019, before breaking several records across his 2020 campaign to claim his record-equalling seventh. Hamilton became the first driver to surpass 100 race wins and pole positions in 2021, ending runner-up to Max Verstappen amidst a disputed finish. Following 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 to remain until at least the end of 2026. His debut season with Ferrari in 2025 was marked by fluctuating results and difficulties adapting to the car. He ended the season sixth in the championship, 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton has been credited with furthering Formula One's global following by appealing to a broader audience outside the sport, partly due to his high-profile lifestyle, environmental, and social activism. He has become a prominent advocate for racial justice and increased diversity in motorsport. Hamilton 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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