Sir Lewis Hamilton is a man who should need very little introduction, but we’re going to give him one anyway. The British Formula 1 driver, who is currently racing for the Mercedes-AMG Formula One team, has broken a number of records during his career, including the most wins, most pole positions and most podium finishes.
He is currently level with Formula One legend Michael Schumacher for World Drivers’ Championship wins, with seven trophies under his belt.
But there is more to Lewis than just his talent on the track, as he is quite the showman off it too, by regularly attending high-profile celebrity events and even pushing for social change by promoting movements such as Black Lives Matter.
In this Lewis Hamilton story…
So, who is Lewis Hamilton, what is his net worth and who, if anyone, is he currently dating?
Lewis Hamilton Quick Facts
| Name: | Sir Lewis Carl David Hamilton |
| Age: | 37 |
| DoB: | 7 January 1985 |
| Nationality: | British |
| Height: | 5ft 7in / 1.74m |
| Weight: | 73kg |
| Net Worth: | $285 million (estimated) |
| Instagram: | @lewishamilton – 28.6m followers |
Who Is Lewis Hamilton?
Lewis Hamilton is a British Formula One driver who is currently signed with the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, which is spearheaded by Toto Wolff. Lewis was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom on 7 January 1985. Lewis’ parents are Anthony Hamilton – who is of Grenadian descent – and Carmela Larbalestier – who is White British – making Lewis mixed-race. When he joined Formula One, he became the first black person to do so.
Lewis Hamilton has two older half-sisters, Samantha and Nicola, and a younger half-brother, Nicolas.
Lewis Hamilton showed a keen interest in car racing from a young age, when his father, Anthony, bought him a radio-controlled car, which he entered into competition. Hamilton ultimately finished second in the national British Radio Controlled Car Association championship when he was just 6 years old. His father followed this up by buying Lewis a go-kart and took on multiple jobs to help fund his racing career.
Lewis Hamilton Racing Career
Karting
Lewis’ father’s investment paid off, as Lewis won the British cadet karting championship in 1995 at just 10 years old, becoming the youngest driver to win the championship. Soon after, Lewis approached then McLaren F1 team principal Ron Dennis, and told him he wanted to race for his team one day.
In 1998, Ron Dennis gave Lewis a role in the McLaren driver development programme, which also included a clause in the contract that would give him the option of getting a seat in Formula One.
Formula One
After rising through the ranks in Formula Renault, Formula Three and GP2, Lewis Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut in 2007, racing for McLaren. In his first season, Lewis finished second in the Driver’s Championship by just one point behind winner, Kimi Räikkōnen. Hamilton’s teammate at the time, Fernando Alonso, left McLaren at the end of the season following a falling out with both Lewis and the team, pushing Lewis up to the number 1 driver position.
Lewis Hamilton won his first World Driver’s Championship in just his second season in Formula One, making him the youngest driver to ever win it at the time (a feat that has since been surpassed by Max Verstappen). Lewis continued to race with McLaren until the end of the 2012 season, after which he joined Mercedes in 2013.
While his first season with Mercedes didn’t end in an overall championship win, when new regulations were introduced in 2014, Hamilton began a period of dominance. It has been with Mercedes that Lewis Hamilton has won six more World Driver’s Championships and set the record for the most podiums, most race wins and most pole positions by any driver in Formula One history.
Activism
Off the track, Lewis Hamilton has promoted a number of movements and donated, or become involved with numerous charitable organisations. Being the only black driver in Formula One and experiencing first-hand racial abuse at race weekends, Hamilton helped promote the Black Lives Matter movement during the 2020 season by taking the knee before every race. He also wore t-shirts in support of Black Lives Matter and the shooting of Breonna Taylor.
Lewis has also spoken out against human rights abuse, particularly in Middle Eastern countries, both in interviews and by wearing rainbow helmets at certain Grand Prix races in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
He has also spoken out about environmental and animal rights and has even set up his own plant-based burger restaurant in the UK called Neat Burger. Hamilton has said he has made changes in his personal life to be more environmentally friendly, such as selling his private jet and banning all plastic from both his office and his homes.
Lewis Hamilton Fashion
Lewis Hamilton often arrives at race weekends rocking various pieces of designer clothing. He has previously been seen wearing orange jumpsuits, full tracksuits and summer-worthy shirt and short combinations.
He is also a brand ambassador for Swiss watch brand IWC-Schaffhausen, and has collaborated with the company on several limited-edition models.
Met Gala
In addition to his race weekend looks and previous collaboration with American fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger, Lewis Hamilton is a regular attendee of the annual Met Gala. While he may have skipped out on the 2022 Met Gala, Lewis Hamilton has previously shown up on the red carpet sporting a variety of looks to suit the year’s theme. In 2021, he also paid for a table to host three emerging black fashion designers, to help give them the spotlight they deserved.
RELATED: Lewis Hamilton’s Style Has Come A Long Way, Here’s How To Get His Look
Lewis Hamilton Hair
Another area that regularly sees Lewis placed under the watchful eye of the media is his hair. When he entered Formula One, he was practically balding, but over the years, his hair has grown longer and longer, to the point where he has been able to style it in dreadlocks. Many people have assumed Lewis has undergone a hair transplant.
Lewis Hamilton Girlfriend
Lewis Hamilton is believed to be single at the moment, however, his most high-profile relationship was with Pussycat Dolls’ lead singer, Nicole Scherzinger. The couple were in an on-and-off relationship between 2007 and 2015. Hamilton has previously been linked with Kendall Jenner, Rita Ora, Rihanna and model Barbara Palvin.
Lewis Hamilton’s Net Worth
Lewis Hamilton regularly ranks among the richest British sportspeople and his net worth is currently estimated at $285 million. His biggest source of income is, of course, his Mercedes F1 salary. He is said to have a signed a contract in 2015 that would see him stay with Mercedes until the end of the 2018 season, which was worth £100 million over the three years, making his salary just over £33 million at the time.
In 2018, he signed a two-year contract extension which was worth a reported £40 million per year. Lewis’ 2021 salary is rumoured to have been worth around $62 million – $55 million in salary but $7 million in bonuses.
Lewis Hamilton’s 2022 salary was estimated to be US$40 million.
Lewis Hamilton Cars
Naturally, being a Formula One racing driver, you can expect Lewis Hamilton to own a collection of incredibly exotic cars. He recently purchased a new LaFerrari, bringing his total up to two, and he has also bought two Mercedes-AMG Ones, which he helped to develop. He is said to have given one to his father.
Lewis also reportedly owns several Mercedes-Benz cars, including an SLS AMG Black Series, a G63 6X6, two Mercedes Maybachs and a GT R, alongside a McLaren P1, a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby G500 and a Ferrari 599 SA Aperta.
He recently sold his customised Pagani Zonda LH for a reported $11.3 million.
Where does Lewis Hamilton live?
Lewis Hamilton’s current main residence is in Monaco. He moved there in 2010 after buying a house worth a reported £10 million. He also has an apartment in Manhatten, New York and an estate in Colorado, which he intends to use when he retires. He has previously owned a home in Switzerland.
He is also rumoured to own a six-bedroom house in West London, which he purchased in 2017 for £18 million.
Lewis Hamilton Tattoos
You only need to see a few pictures of Lewis Hamilton to understand he has a penchant for tattoos. A good majority of Lewis’ tattoos have religious connotations and associations. One of his biggest tattoos is on his back and depicts a large cross surrounded by a pair of angel wings, accompanied by the words “Still I Rise.” This quote regularly features on Lewis’ race helmet, too.
He’s said the tattoo was inspired by his favourite rapper, Tupac, while the quote comes from a poem written by American civil rights activist, Maya Angelou.
Other religious-inspired tattoos include a guardian angel, a secret heart and Michelangelo’s Pieta combined into a sleeve on his right arm, and a compass on his sternum that he says represents the direction his church visits provide him.
Lewis also has a number of hand tattoos. Some of his ink includes a hourglass, the symbol for his star sign of Capricorn and a collection sacred geometry and alchemy symbols.
How old is Lewis Hamilton?
Lewis Hamilton is currently 37 years old. His birthday is the 7th of January 1985.
How tall is Lewis Hamilton?
Lewis Hamilton is 5 ft 7 in tall, or 1.74m.
Where is Lewis Hamilton from?
Lewis Hamilton was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kindgom.
Is Lewis Hamilton gay?
No, Lewis Hamilton isn't gay, but he does support the LGBTQ+ community.