Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton’s Rise To Success

Every Formula One racing fan out there will agree on how Lewis Hamilton is one such name in this motor racing world that cannot be talked about, here we are doing the same.

Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is one of the greatest Formula One drivers ever to exist, and how can we not talk about this GOAT.

Childhood

Lewis Hamilton born 7 January 1985 (age 39) is a British racing driver, born and raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Hamilton’s father Anthony Hamilton and his mother Carmen Larbalestier got divorced when Lewis was around two years. Due to the mutual divorce between his parents, Lewis had to stay with his mother and his older half-sisters until he reached the age of twelve, but not until then he had specifically shown any kind of signs of his interest in racing.

Reaching the age of twelve, Lewis Hamilton now had to live with his father Anthony, who initially had no idea how to raise a kid. Still, it all started with a radio remote-controlled car that his dad brought him, which Lewis used to compete in the radio remote car racing association.

Lewis showed some spectacular talent even though he was the youngest to participate in the competition, defeating the adults and other teenagers who took part in the same event to win the title.

Witnessing all this, his dad put him in a Go-kart, which was difficult as they were the only black people to ever participate in it.

Today, Hamilton’s incredible success is due to his father’s constant support. Anthony worked hard to support his son’s dream, taking up four jobs so that he could do no less in providing him the absolute best.

Career

Lewis at the age of ten approached McLaren Formula One team boss Ron Dennis at the Autosport Awards, telling him that he would want to be racing in one of their cars.

After this very encounter, Ron Dennis kept his eyes on Lewis for the next few years, and finally, he was offered a sponsorship.

His very Formula One career started with McLaren where he stayed from 2007-2012, he was partnering with the two-time defending world champion Fernando Alonso. If you have been a long-time Formula One fan, it’s not new to the feud that started between the two, which led Lewis Hamilton to depart from McLaren with mutual consent.

Mercedes later came into the picture, by signing a contract with the Mercedes team, Lewis had a great racing career. Between the years 2017-2020, he had four titles in a row. His racing took a drastic turn with signs of slump, no wins. In 2022-2024 the actual struggle was seen in Lewis Hamilton he recently also stated how it was so difficult for him to just wake up and get himself focusing on racing which he loved so much, with many ongoing controversies with the team, Lewis announced his departure from the Mercedes team.

The new team that Lewis Hamilton is going to race for the next season is Ferrari. All the fans are excited to see him start a new era of his own, while some are concerned over the decision of him to leave the Mercedes Team.

Role Model

Lewis Hamilton has always looked up to Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest, legendary drivers Formula One has ever witnessed. Senna was a Brazilian race car driver he was known for his ruthless and fierce racing style, he always stood up for his beliefs and never let anyone bring him down.

Lewis has never let any chance of not praising his idol at any press meet or conference. Not to mention, Hamilton received Senna’s helmet for equalling Ayrton’s record, which was a heartwarming gesture shown by Senna’s family.

Struggles

Being black, Lewis Hamilton has faced a lot of racism, and abuse throughout his life. He says that school was the most traumatizing and difficult part of his life. He was being bullied back at the age of six, which is why he learned karate to defend himself from the bullies. But that did not stop anything that was coming his way.

Lewis stated in one of his interviews, “And the constant jabs, the things that are either thrown at you, like bananas or people that would use the N-word, just so relaxed. People call you half-caste and do not know where you fit in. That was difficult.”

“In my [secondary] school there were six or seven black kids out of 1,200 kids and three of us were put outside the headmasters’ office all the time. The headmaster just had it out for us – and particularly me.”

“I felt the system was up against me, and I was swimming against the tide. There were a lot of things I suppressed. I didn’t feel I could go home and tell my parents that these kids kept calling me the N-word or I got bullied or beaten up at school today, I didn’t want my dad to think I was not strong.”

Now, his whole racing career is seen to be in downfall, which is heartbreaking for the fans. But the win at Silverstone is being seen as hope for Lewis as well as his beloved fans.

Interesting Facts We Never Knew About Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton is multi-talented. No words are needed to describe this man.

• Singer/musician – not what you expect from a racer, though. He has collaborated with Christina Aguilera on the 2018 hit “Pipe”. Which was initially not known to anyone, he only came out clean after two years of its release. He further went on to reveal that he has been writing and recording music for a decade.

• Fashion – Lewis Hamilton is very well known for his fashion sense, he is admired by many for it. He is seen collaborating with top brands like Tommy Hilfiger.

• Personal brand – Lewis Hamilton has his clothing line launched called ”Plus 44.”

• Filmmaking – Lewis has hinted about his participation in Hollywood movies, not to mention he has his own production company called “Dawn Apollo Films” he has ambitions that are beyond acting and racing.

• The fourth driver to receive a Knighthood – Lewis Hamilton was knighted in 2021 by Prince Charles, following Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss, and Sir Jackie Stewart.

• Hamilton is a part-owner of the NFL team, the Denver Broncos, in 2022.

Future

With a multi-year deal a sensational switch from Mercedes to Ferrari is most anticipated by everyone, to see him on the racetrack and competing as a rival to Mercedes might be a good show to watch. In an interview with the British GQ, he revealed his desire to succeed beyond F1.

“I went through this phase of understanding that I can’t race forever.”

Lewis Hamilton has always been an ambitious person who desires to do many things but also has revealed on how he tries to humble himself down that not everything can be achieved. Hamilton has always lived with the positive mindset, where he believes that the word “can’t” does not exist.

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