Lewis Hamilton is undoubtedly one of the most popular Formula 1 stars. With multiple records under his belt and a total of seven World Championships, he has certainly etched his name among the all-time greats of the sport.
He made his debut in 2007 with McLaren and was impressive from Day 1. In 2008, he won his first World Championship, thus declaring his talent to the world.
In 2013, he moved to Mercedes, a midfield team at that time. But the team’s fortunes were quickly overturned come the 2014 season. From 2014 to 2020, Lewis Hamilton dominated extensively, only losing the 2016 season championship to his teammate at the time, Nico Rosberg.
Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 14, 2019 in Shanghai, China.
Lewis Hamilton: Stats and Championships
Being fast and consistent has helped him get where he is right now: seven World Championships and 103 race victories. With 103 pole positions and counting, he holds the all-time record for the highest pole positions in Formula One, ahead of second-place Michael Schumacher with 68.
His debut season in 2007 earned him a lot of accolades: Most Wins in a Debut Season (4), Most Pole Positions in a Debut Season (6), Most Points in a Debut Season (109), Most Consecutive Podium Positions from Debut (9) and the Youngest Driver to Lead the Championship (achieved at the 2007 Spanish Grand Prix).
His 2019 championship run saw him finish with 413 points, a world record for the most points by a driver in a season. Further, with 347 points, he earned the 2020 world championship, equaling Schumacher’s record of seven.
Lewis Hamilton’s 2022 Net Worth
Naturally, a talent like Hamilton does not come cheap. In 2o18, he signed a two-year contract extension with the team, giving him a base salary of $30 million, with bonuses pushing it to over $50 million (according to Forbes) per annum for 2019 and 2020.
Forbes estimated him at $54 million as of May 2020, which consists of $12 million from endorsements alone.
In February 2021, the Billion Dollar Man signed an unusual 1-year contract with Mercedes for the 2021 season, which witnessed him earn a base salary of $55M. What’s more, later that year, Hamilton also signed a new 2-year contract with the Brackley outfit, securing him a drive in F1 until the end of 2023. However, Hamilton’s salary dropped by quite a margin, with the numbers reportedly around $41M.
Lewis Hamilton’s Knighthood
Lewis Hamilton was the fourth British driver to be knighted after Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss, and Sir Jackie Stewart. The Mercedes driver received the precious token of appreciation from Queen Elizabeth II on the eve of the 2021 new year. However, amidst the pandemic, Hamilton had to wait another year before officially earning the ‘Sir’ tag.
Hence, following the heartbreaking end to the 2021 championship title fight, Hamilton received his knighthood at Windsor Castle.
The honors arrived at Hamilton’s doorsteps only months after securing his seventh world championship at Istanbul Park in 2020.
Lewis Hamilton’s Endorsements
Naturally, the popularity that Lewis Hamilton enjoys, he is the centerpiece of a lot of endorsements. His interest in designing saw him have a very close collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger.
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 11, 2020 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit Hamad I Mohammed/Pool via REUTERS
Apart from this, he has endorsements from Monster Energy, Puma, IWC, Sony, Bose, Bell Helmets, MV Agusta Motorcycles, and more. Being the most marketable driver on the F1 grid at the moment, he is also the face and official ambassador of the popular racing game, Gran Turismo Sport. As of 2022, his endorsements are worth $12 Million.
Lewis Hamilton: Controversies
While his racing record has been nearly flawless over the past few years, Hamilton’s had his fair share of controversial moments in a career spanning 16 years. While some of these weren’t Hamilton’s fault in any way, others could be termed as questionable.
2012 was a difficult season for Lewis Hamilton. It was his last year with McLaren, and towards the end of the season, he was fed up with the team over reliability issues.
At the 2012 Belgium Grand Prix, a disgruntled Hamilton released his teammate’s telemetry following qualifying. Jenson Button stormed to pole at Spa with a better car setup, but it didn’t go down too well with Hamilton. Lewis took to social media to share what he thought was his teammate’s confidential data, which in the end, turned out to be something entirely different.
Relationships
He was notably in a relationship with American singer Nicole Scherzinger. The pair dated for over seven years before splitting up in 2015. They were quite the power couple in the paddock back then, but the relationship had its ups and downs.
Lifestyle
Fast cars, private jets, and glamor all around. One would expect nothing less from Hamilton’s lifestyle, but he’s moved on from those things. Having sold his private jet, Hamilton actively advocates against global warming and climate change.
However, he still does own a pretty sweet car collection, which includes a Ferrari!
As someone who’s expressive, Hamilton also has an enviable set of tattoos. In 2018, the reigning champion sat down to break down the significance of his ink.
Activism & Philanthropy
The Mercedes driver constantly urges people to monitor their carbon footprint and give back to the planet. Moreover, Hamilton often voices out against animal cruelty via his social media platforms.
As a result, the seven-time World Champion has adopted a vegan lifestyle. Over the years, Hamilton has also become a voice for the people irrespective of the level of controversy it is churning out across the world. His biggest involvement being in 2020 when the 36-year-old took to the streets to support an extremely sensitive matter that was causing disruption to the whole of the United States.
Hamilton’s invested in several business ventures. Most notably in the fashion industry with Tommy Hilfiger.
Rear More – The houses owned by Lewis Hamilton
Family
Hamilton didn’t have the easiest childhood growing up. The British driver’s parents – Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier – separated when Lewis was merely two years old.
Formula One F1 – Portuguese Grand Prix – Algarve International Circuit, Portimao, Portugal – October 25, 2020 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his father Anthony after winning the race Pool via REUTERS/Jorge Guerrero
As a young boy, Hamilton was bullied in school and often references the fact that he took up karting as a means to show off his strengths on track.
Nicolas Hamilton often is often present at race weekends, cheering on his older sibling. Nicolas suffers from Cerebral Palsy – a disorder that hinders movement. However, that did not stop Nicolas from pursuing a career in racing. The Briton currently competes in the British Touring Car Championship, with a specially modified car to cope with the disorder.
Lewis Hamilton: Foundation and Charity
Lewis Hamilton has pledged his support to UNICEF, Education Africa, Save the Children, and a few others. He is also a vegan by choice and doesn’t shy away from proclaiming the need for veganism to save animals and our planet Earth from global warming. He was named by PETA, the 2018 Personality of the Year for his efforts to save animals.
In January 2020, Hamilton pledged $500,000 as an aid for animals affected by bushfires in Australia
He also has a charity of his own. More details on that here.
How to contact Lewis Hamilton
Being such a hot commodity in F1 and the world of motorsports, a lot of people want to reach out to Lewis Hamilton and get in touch with him. Fortunately, there are ways in which the average fan and a serious business partner can contact Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton is very active and highly popular on social media. As a result, it’s the most accessible and easiest method to keep in touch with the seven-time World Champion.
Lewis Hamilton is on all the popular social media handles, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. While these serve as an excellent platform for fan requests and interactions, Hamilton has his own official website and management team to keep a track of proposals and requests.
Interested parties can reach out to Lewis Hamilton through his contact page or write an email to his management team at teamlh@lewishamilton.com
Alternatively, one could also write a letter, the old-fashioned way to his mailing address at :
Lewis Carl Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton Motorsport Ltd.
The Ring, 72 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HA
England
Age 37
Marital Status Single
Residence Monte Carlo, Monaco
Nationality British
Team Mercedes AMG Petronas
Endorsements Mercedes-Benz, Tommy Hilfiger, Monster Energy, Puma, IWC, Sony, BOSE, Bell Helmets, MV Agusta Motorcycles, Gran Turismo Sport
Championships 7
Annual Salary $54 million
Net Worth $285 million
Endorsements $12 million
Date of Birth January 7, 1985
Height 1.74m
Career points 4193.5 (as of 2022 Australian GP)
Cars McLaren P1, 1966 Shelby Cobra 427, Ferrari LaFerrari, Vision Mercedes Maybach 6, Pagani Zonda 760, Mercedes AMG GTR, Ferrari 599 Aperta, Mercedes Maybach S600, Mercedes AMG G63, Mercedes SLS AMG, Ford Shelby Mustang GT500, Mercedes AMG Project One
Ethnicity Black
