LEWIS HAMILTON
Lewis Hamilton, MBE, is a British Formula 1 driver, currently racing for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. In 2018 he won his fifth Formula One World Championship, putting him among the sport’s all-time greats.
The son of an English mother and a father with Grenadian heritage, Lewis experienced a childhood many kids can relate to – he struggled with dyslexia and wasn’t sure where he belonged. He started racing go-karts at eight as a way to spend time with his dad. Showing incredible potential, he climbed the ladder at an unprecedented rate. Lewis had found his place in the world.
But Lewis’s roots and upbringing weren’t typical of the elitist world of F1, and as he continued his rise through ranks, he had to learn to embrace his role as an outsider. After blowing the competition off the grid in karting and the Formula 3 Euro Series, he progressed to the GP2 Series. It was here that his fearless rise to every challenge caught the eye of McLaren Mercedes, who gave him his ticket to the big time: Formula 1, the pinnacle of motor racing. Lewis made his Formula 1 debut aged just 22. He became the youngest World Championship leader during his rookie season, eventually finishing runner up. The following year he claimed the crown, becoming the youngest World Champion the sport has ever seen.
In 2013 he moved to Mercedes AMG F1 and alongside his 1,200 teammates returned the Silver Arrows to the top of the podium with his second and third World Championships in 2015 and 2016, equalling the record set by his childhood hero, the great Ayrton Senna. Still carrying a sense that his success could be snatched away at any moment, Lewis maintained his unrivalled focus on winning perfection. He went on to secure two more world titles to join the great Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as the only drivers with five or more world championship titles.
His approach to life off the track is just as positive, constantly challenging himself to grow and seeking inspiration from new places. He has a deep passion for creativity and fashion, and as a global brand ambassador for TOMMY HILFIGER designed his own global line, TommyXLewis, which fuses his unique style with the American heritage of the TOMMY HILFIGER brand. Launched via a catwalk event in Shanghai, it received critical acclaim and featured on the cover British GQ.
His willingness to embrace what makes him different has defined his outlook on life, and the fearlessness, inspiration and positivity that drive him have been recognized by TIME Magazine, which included Lewis as one of the world’s ‘100 Most Influential People’.
Looking to the future, Lewis sees himself relentlessly chasing perfection on the track. His against-the-odds rise to the top has also made him fiercely committed to unleashing potential in others, where ever it is found, no matter their background – to help them learn to embrace their difference to unlock their potential.
The son of an English mother and a father with Grenadian heritage, Lewis experienced a childhood many kids can relate to – he struggled with dyslexia and wasn’t sure where he belonged. He started racing go-karts at eight as a way to spend time with his dad. Showing incredible potential, he climbed the ladder at an unprecedented rate. Lewis had found his place in the world.
But Lewis’s roots and upbringing weren’t typical of the elitist world of F1, and as he continued his rise through ranks, he had to learn to embrace his role as an outsider. After blowing the competition off the grid in karting and the Formula 3 Euro Series, he progressed to the GP2 Series. It was here that his fearless rise to every challenge caught the eye of McLaren Mercedes, who gave him his ticket to the big time: Formula 1, the pinnacle of motor racing. Lewis made his Formula 1 debut aged just 22. He became the youngest World Championship leader during his rookie season, eventually finishing runner up. The following year he claimed the crown, becoming the youngest World Champion the sport has ever seen.
In 2013 he moved to Mercedes AMG F1 and alongside his 1,200 teammates returned the Silver Arrows to the top of the podium with his second and third World Championships in 2015 and 2016, equalling the record set by his childhood hero, the great Ayrton Senna. Still carrying a sense that his success could be snatched away at any moment, Lewis maintained his unrivalled focus on winning perfection. He went on to secure two more world titles to join the great Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher as the only drivers with five or more world championship titles.
His approach to life off the track is just as positive, constantly challenging himself to grow and seeking inspiration from new places. He has a deep passion for creativity and fashion, and as a global brand ambassador for TOMMY HILFIGER designed his own global line, TommyXLewis, which fuses his unique style with the American heritage of the TOMMY HILFIGER brand. Launched via a catwalk event in Shanghai, it received critical acclaim and featured on the cover British GQ.
His willingness to embrace what makes him different has defined his outlook on life, and the fearlessness, inspiration and positivity that drive him have been recognized by TIME Magazine, which included Lewis as one of the world’s ‘100 Most Influential People’.
Looking to the future, Lewis sees himself relentlessly chasing perfection on the track. His against-the-odds rise to the top has also made him fiercely committed to unleashing potential in others, where ever it is found, no matter their background – to help them learn to embrace their difference to unlock their potential.