Career Timeline of Lewis Hamilton: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Lewis Hamilton made an impact.

Lewis Hamilton is a highly accomplished British Formula One racing driver currently competing for Ferrari. He holds a joint-record of seven Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, sharing the honor with Michael Schumacher. Hamilton also holds the Formula One records for the most race wins (105), pole positions (104), and podium finishes (202), establishing him as one of the sport's most dominant and successful figures.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1993: Beginning of Karting Career

In 1993, Lewis Hamilton started his karting career, quickly achieving success in races and championships.

1996: Damon Hill wins the World Drivers' Championship

In 1996, Damon Hill became the first British driver to win the World Drivers' Championship since the creation of this event.

1998: Offer from McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme

In 1998, Ron Dennis offered Lewis Hamilton a role in the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme after his Super One series and British championship wins.

1999: Progress in Intercontinental A Ranks

In 1999, Lewis Hamilton continued his karting progression in the Intercontinental A ranks.

2000: Teammates in Karting

In 2000, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were teammates in karting, racing for Mercedes Benz McLaren in Formula A, where Hamilton became European champion.

2000: European Championship Win

In 2000, Lewis Hamilton won the European Championship with maximum points in Formula A, racing for TeamMBM.com with teammate Nico Rosberg.

2000: Karting World Cup and European Championship Wins

In 2000, Lewis Hamilton won the direct-drive Karting World Cup and European Championship, marking significant achievements in his early career.

2001: Start of Car Racing Career

In 2001, Lewis Hamilton began his car racing career in the British Formula Renault Winter Series, finishing fifth overall.

2001: Competition Against Michael Schumacher

In 2001, Michael Schumacher made a one-off return to karts and competed against Lewis Hamilton, with Hamilton finishing seventh in the final.

2002: Full Formula Renault UK Campaign

In 2002, Lewis Hamilton participated in a full Formula Renault UK campaign with Manor Motorsport, finishing third overall.

2002: Hamilton's Perspective on Joining Formula One

In 2002, when asked about potentially becoming one of the youngest Formula One drivers, Hamilton expressed that his goal was not just to be the youngest but to be experienced and ready to perform.

2004: Debut in Formula 3 Euro Series

In 2004, Lewis Hamilton made his debut with Manor in the Formula 3 Euro Series, finishing the year fifth in the championship. He also won the Bahrain F3 Superprix.

2004: First Formula One Test with McLaren

In late 2004, Lewis Hamilton had his first Formula One test with McLaren at Silverstone.

2005: Domination in Formula 3 Euro Series

In 2005, Lewis Hamilton dominated the Formula 3 Euro Series with ASM, winning 15 of 20 rounds and securing 13 pole positions. He also won the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort. Autosport ranked him 24th in their "Top 50 Drivers of 2005" issue.

2005: Disagreement and Re-signing with McLaren

In 2005, a dispute between Anthony Hamilton and Martin Whitmarsh about Lewis's career progression led to a torn-up contract, but Hamilton later re-signed with McLaren.

2006: GP2 Championship Win

In 2006, Lewis Hamilton won the GP2 championship in his first attempt, driving for ART Grand Prix. He secured a dominant win at the Nürburgring and overtook two rivals at Becketts in Silverstone. He ultimately won the title after Giorgio Pantano was stripped of the fastest lap in the Monza feature race.

2007: Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying Incident

During the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton ignored team requests to let Fernando Alonso pass, leading to Alonso delaying Hamilton in the pits. Alonso received a grid penalty, and McLaren lost Constructors' Championship points. Hamilton expressed regret over the points loss and was reported to have sworn at Dennis, which McLaren later denied.

2007: Hamilton Debuts in Formula One

In 2007, Hamilton debuted at the Australian Grand Prix, becoming the first black driver to compete in Formula One.

2007: Formula One Debut

In 2007, Lewis Hamilton debuted in Formula One with McLaren at the Australian Grand Prix, becoming the first black driver to compete in Formula One.

2007: Tensions with Alonso at Monaco

In 2007, at the Monaco Grand Prix, tensions arose between Lewis Hamilton and his teammate Fernando Alonso after Hamilton finished second. His post-race comments suggested he was forced into a supporting role, leading to an FIA investigation into potential team order violations by McLaren.

2007: Relationship with Alonso Collapses

In 2007, the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso reportedly collapsed, leading to speculation about their future with McLaren.

June 2008: Registration of Lewis Hamilton Foundation

In June 2008, the Lewis Hamilton Foundation was registered, providing grants and donations to a number of charitable causes.

2008: Hamilton wins his maiden title

In 2008, Lewis Hamilton partnered with Heikki Kovalainen and achieved five race victories and ten podium finishes. He won his maiden title at the Brazilian Grand Prix, overtaking Timo Glock for fifth place on the last lap, becoming the youngest World Drivers' Champion at the time and the first British driver to win the World Drivers' Championship since 1996.

2008: First World Drivers' Championship

In 2008, Lewis Hamilton won his maiden World Drivers' Championship, making a crucial overtake on the last lap of the last race.

2008: Alonso Leaves McLaren

In November 2008, Fernando Alonso and McLaren mutually terminated their contract, ending his time as Lewis Hamilton's teammate.

2008: Victory at the British Grand Prix

In the 2008 British Grand Prix, Hamilton secured a dominant victory, besting second-place Nick Heidfeld by over a minute, marking the largest margin of victory since 1995.

2008: Hamilton wins the 2008 World Drivers' Championship

With his victory at the 2008 World Drivers' Championship, Hamilton became the then-youngest driver to win the title, aged 23 years and 301 days.

2009: Drivers' Championship Ranking

Following Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel's four-year dominance of the sport, Hamilton's resolve was tested and he did not finish higher than fourth in the Drivers' Championship from 2009 to 2013.

2009: Winning with a bad car

He was able to win with a dominant car, with a good car like 2010 or 2012, or with bad cars like 2009 and 2011. Not all the champions can say that.

2009: McLaren's challenging start and improvement

In 2009, major technical regulation changes led to a challenging start for McLaren. However, major upgrades at the German Grand Prix dramatically improved the performance of the MP4-24 car, resulting in Hamilton securing two race victories and three additional podium finishes.

2010: Winning with a good car

He was able to win with a dominant car, with a good car like 2010 or 2012, or with bad cars like 2009 and 2011. Not all the champions can say that.

2010: Involvement in Four-Way Title Battle

In 2010, Lewis Hamilton was involved in a four-way title battle during his time at McLaren, achieving multiple race wins.

2010: Hamilton's Title Challenge and Setbacks

In 2010, Lewis Hamilton was partnered by Jenson Button and engaged in a four-way title battle. He secured McLaren's only pole position of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix and took the championship lead after winning the race. However, misfortunes in the latter half of the season led to him finishing fourth in the standings.

2010: End of Father's Management

In early 2010, Anthony Hamilton ceased being Lewis Hamilton's manager, marking a change in their professional relationship.

2011: Challenging year for Hamilton

2011 was a challenging year for Lewis Hamilton. He was out-scored by his teammate, Jenson Button. Setbacks in his private life, as well as on-track collisions, contributed to inconsistent performances. Hamilton finished fifth in the standings with three race wins.

2011: Winning with a bad car

He was able to win with a dominant car, with a good car like 2010 or 2012, or with bad cars like 2009 and 2011. Not all the champions can say that.

March 2012: Hamilton visits the Philippines with UNICEF

In March 2012, Lewis Hamilton traveled to the Philippines with UNICEF to make a short film about Manila's street children, which helped raise over £4.9 million for UNICEF during Soccer Aid.

October 2012: Hamilton visits UNICEF-funded center in India

In October 2012, while in India for the Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton visited a UNICEF-funded newborn care unit and nutrition center.

2012: Winning with a good car

He was able to win with a dominant car, with a good car like 2012, or with bad cars like 2009 and 2011. Not all the champions can say that.

2012: Hamilton's final year with McLaren

In 2012, Lewis Hamilton remained in title contention during the first half of the season, but a challenging latter half with mechanical failures led to a fourth-place finish. Motorsport.com analysis found that Hamilton had lost an estimated 110 points due to race retirements and other misfortunes. He announced he would join Mercedes for the 2013 season.

2012: Contract Extension with McLaren

Lewis Hamilton signed a £50 million contract to remain with McLaren until the end of 2012.

2013: Highest-paid Formula One driver from 2013

According to Forbes, Hamilton was the highest-paid Formula One driver starting in 2013.

2013: Drivers' Championship Ranking

Following Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel's four-year dominance of the sport, Hamilton's resolve was tested and he did not finish higher than fourth in the Drivers' Championship from 2009 to 2013.

2013: Hamilton becomes Global Education Ambassador for Save the Children

In 2013, Lewis Hamilton became the Global Education Ambassador for Save the Children, supporting and promoting its education campaigns.

2013: Joining Mercedes with Rosberg

In 2013, Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes and was paired with his former karting teammate and friend, Nico Rosberg. Their relationship became strained during their time as teammates.

2013: Hamilton's first season with Mercedes

In 2013, Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes. He finished fourth in the standings, securing five podium finishes and pole positions, with one race victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Pirelli's switch in tyre construction contributed to his victory in Hungary, but Hamilton and Mercedes faced a difficult latter half of the season.

2013: Signing with Mercedes

In 2013, Lewis Hamilton signed with Mercedes to partner with Nico Rosberg, ending his 15-year association with McLaren.

2013: Teammate with Nico Rosberg at Mercedes

In 2013, Lewis Hamilton teamed up again with Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, renewing their karting partnership in Formula One.

2013: Move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013

In parallel to his move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, his move to Ferrari in 2025 was noted as one of the most unexpected driver transfers in Formula One history.

2014: Second World Championship Title

After Hamilton clinched his second and third World Championship titles with Mercedes in 2014 and 2015, David Coulthard declared Hamilton the best driver of his generation, calling him "the Ayrton Senna of his era".

2014: Mercedes's Dominance

From 2014, Lewis Hamilton drove for Mercedes which began a period of dominance.

2014: Start of Wet Weather Dominance

From the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton remained unbeaten in every race affected by wet weather up to 2019, showcasing his exceptional skill in challenging conditions.

2014: Hamilton travels to Haiti with UNICEF

In 2014, Lewis Hamilton traveled to Haiti where he made a short film about child malnutrition, which helped raise over £6 million for UNICEF during Soccer Aid.

2014: Hamilton wins his second World Drivers' Championship

In 2014, changes to engine regulations marked the start of a successful era for Hamilton. He secured a career-best 11 victories and won his second World Drivers' Championship at the final round in Abu Dhabi, prevailing in a season-long duel against teammate Rosberg.

2014: Hamilton chooses to race under number 44

In 2014, new Formula One driver number regulations allowed drivers to pick a unique car number, with Lewis Hamilton electing to compete under his old karting number 44.

2015: Third World Championship Title

2015: Hamilton signs contract with Mercedes until 2018

Before the 2015 Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton signed a contract to stay with Mercedes until the end of the 2018 season in a deal reportedly worth more than £100 million over the three years, making him one of the best-paid drivers in Formula One.

2015: Hamilton continues racing with number 44

Before the start of the 2015 season, Lewis Hamilton announced he would not be switching his car number to 1, and would instead continue to race with his career No. 44.

2015: Hamilton wins his third World Drivers' Championship

In 2015, Lewis Hamilton fended off Rosberg's challenge for the title for a second year running, winning 10 races. He achieved his first back-to-back championships, clinching the title at the United States Grand Prix with three races to spare. Hamilton also extended his contract with Mercedes.

2015: Hamilton takes part in exhibition to highlight UNICEF's work

In 2015, Lewis Hamilton took part in an exhibition to highlight UNICEF's work and to celebrate its partnership with Starwood Hotels.

2016: Finished Behind Teammate

In 2016, Hamilton finished behind his teammate in the standings for the first time since joining Mercedes, signaling a shift in team dynamics and performance challenges.

2016: Partnership with Nico Rosberg at Mercedes

In 2016, Lewis Hamilton continued his partnership with Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, further developing their Formula One careers.

2016: Mercedes's Dominance

In 2016, Lewis Hamilton drove for Mercedes which began a period of dominance.

2016: Hamilton finishes runner-up to Rosberg

In 2016, Lewis Hamilton finished runner-up to Rosberg in the championship. Despite winning six of seven races mid-season, including the Hungarian Grand Prix, an engine blowout in Malaysia and team order defiance in Abu Dhabi led to Rosberg taking the title. Hamilton broke the record for most wins in a season without becoming the champion.

June 2017: Hamilton joins the Super Dads initiative

In June 2017, Lewis Hamilton joined the Super Dads initiative, a UNICEF campaign that highlighted the role of fathers in early childhood development.

August 2017: Hamilton visits Havana with UNICEF

In August 2017, Lewis Hamilton visited Havana with UNICEF to learn more about its first development programs in Cuba.

2017: Championship Battle with Vettel

In 2017, Ferrari produced a car capable of challenging Mercedes' dominance, leading to a championship battle between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. Despite some on-track incidents, they developed a strong mutual respect.

2017: Fourth World Title

In 2017, Lewis Hamilton overcame a mid-season deficit to claim his fourth World Championship title, battling against Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.

2017: Hamilton wins his fourth World Drivers' title

In 2017, Lewis Hamilton was partnered by Valtteri Bottas. He won his fourth World Drivers' title at the Mexican Grand Prix with two races to spare, registering 11 pole positions and nine race victories.

2018: Consecutive Races in Point-Scoring Positions

From 2017 to 2018, Hamilton finished 33 consecutive races in point-scoring positions. In 2018, Ross Brawn praised Hamilton for winning races even when the opposition was stronger.

2018: Continued Championship Battle with Vettel

In 2018, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel continued their championship battle, with Mercedes and Hamilton ultimately winning the championship.

2018: Hamilton wins his fifth title at the Mexican Grand Prix

In 2018, Lewis Hamilton and Vettel engaged in a close battle for their fifth title, with Hamilton ultimately winning at the Mexican Grand Prix for a second year running. He secured 11 pole positions and race victories, setting a new record for most points scored in a season (408). Hamilton also signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes.

2018: Gold Helmet with Five Stars

In 2018, Lewis Hamilton continued the practice of wearing gold helmets for season finales, sporting one with five stars, representing his five World Championship titles.

2018: Hamilton raises money for the Small Steps Project

In 2018, Lewis Hamilton raised £6,411 for the Small Steps Project through charity auctions.

2018: Fifth World Title

In 2018, Lewis Hamilton secured his fifth World Championship title, again overturning a mid-season deficit against Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.

2018: Tribute to Alonso

In 2018, after Alonso's final race before his hiatus, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel paid tribute to Alonso by performing donuts on the start-finish straight.

2018: Hamilton signs a two-year contract with Mercedes

In the week leading up to the 2018 German Grand Prix, Hamilton signed a two-year contract with Mercedes, reported to be worth up to £40 million per year, making him the best-paid driver in the history of Formula One.

September 2019: Hamilton launches Neat Burger

In September 2019, Lewis Hamilton launched Neat Burger, a vegan restaurant chain claiming to be the first international plant-based burger chain.

2019: Sixth World Drivers' Championship Title

Following Hamilton clinching his sixth World Drivers' Championship title in 2019, ex-Formula One driver and pundit Johnny Herbert acclaimed Hamilton as the greatest driver ever.

2019: End of Wet Weather Winning Streak

Hamilton's streak of remaining unbeaten in wet weather races from the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix ended at the 2019 German Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen broke the streak.

2019: Hamilton Clinches Sixth Title

In 2019, Lewis Hamilton led the championship standings and clinched his sixth title at the United States Grand Prix. He ended the season with 11 race wins and broke his own record for most points scored.

2019: Hamilton raises money for the Small Steps Project

In 2019, Lewis Hamilton raised £6,000 for the Small Steps Project through charity auctions.

2019: Sixth World Title

In 2019, Lewis Hamilton won his sixth World Championship title, further solidifying his legacy in Formula One.

2019: Gold Helmet with Six Stars

Lewis Hamilton sported a gold helmet with six stars at the season finale in 2019, commemorating his six World Championship titles.

January 2020: Hamilton donates to Australian bushfire relief

In January 2020, Lewis Hamilton donated US$500,000 to causes relating to bushfires in Australia and announced his aim of being carbon neutral by the end of the year.

May 2020: Criticism of Formula One's Silence

Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Lewis Hamilton criticized prominent figures in Formula One for their silence on the issue, using Instagram to express his views.

June 2020: Hamilton establishes The Hamilton Commission

In June 2020, Lewis Hamilton established The Hamilton Commission with the Royal Academy of Engineering to encourage more black people to engage with STEM subjects and increase employment in motorsport or other engineering sectors.

August 2020: Hamilton invests in fashion magazine W

In August 2020, Daily Front Row listed Lewis Hamilton as one of a group of high-profile investors who purchased fashion magazine W.

September 2020: Hamilton launches Team X44

In September 2020, Lewis Hamilton launched Team X44 to compete in the all-electric SUV off-road racing series Extreme E from the 2021 season.

2020: Seventh World Title

After Hamilton won his seventh title in 2020, John Watson stated that Hamilton "is, by a million miles, the greatest driver of his generation and you can argue he will go on to be the greatest Formula One driver of all time".

2020: Wet Weather Win at Turkish Grand Prix

At the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, Hamilton clinched his seventh world title with a widely acclaimed wet weather drive. He cited the race as his "stand-out" performance of the season, gambling on a one-stop strategy in mixed conditions.

2020: Hamilton wins his seventh title

In 2020, Hamilton won his seventh World Drivers' Championship, tying the all-time record set by Michael Schumacher.

2020: Record-Equaling Seventh Title

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton claimed his record-equaling seventh World Championship, breaking the all-time win record at the Portuguese Grand Prix.

2020: Hamilton partners with #TOGETHERBAND campaign

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton partnered with the #TOGETHERBAND charity campaign to promote the United Nations' 17 Global Goals, visiting Alperton Community School to discuss the importance of education.

2020: Hamilton raises money for the Small Steps Project and auction of race suit

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton raised £4,000 for the Small Steps Project, and a donated race suit reportedly raised €20,000 for vulnerable children.

2020: Listed as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton was recognized by Time as one of the 100 most influential people globally, acknowledging his broader impact beyond Formula One.

July 2021: Hamilton founds Mission 44

In July 2021, Lewis Hamilton founded Mission 44, a charity designed to help young people from under-represented backgrounds achieve their ambitions and pledged £20 million to support the charity's work.

2021: Highest-paid Formula One driver until 2021

According to Forbes, Hamilton was the highest-paid Formula One driver until 2021.

2021: Commentary on Hamilton's Consistency

Ahead of the 2021 season, Martin Brundle of Sky Sports highlighted Hamilton's consistency, noting his lack of mistakes and completeness as a driver.

2021: Rainbow Helmet for LGBTQ Rights

During the Qatar, Saudi Arabian and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix of 2021, Lewis Hamilton used rainbow helmet designs in support of LGBTQ rights in the Middle East.

2021: Pole Position at Hungarian Grand Prix

In 2021, Hamilton secured his first pole position since 2021 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, surpassing Senna and Schumacher for the most pole positions at the same Grand Prix.

2021: Hamilton denied the championship

In 2021, Lewis Hamilton battled Max Verstappen for the title, engaging in on-track battles and collisions. He achieved his 100th pole position and race win. Despite leading the majority of the race in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton was denied the championship by a last-lap overtake from Verstappen. During the year, Hamilton extended his contract with Mercedes.

2021: Surpassing 100 Race Wins and Pole Positions

In 2021, Lewis Hamilton became the first driver to surpass 100 race wins and 100 pole positions, finishing runner-up to Max Verstappen amidst a controversial finish.

2021: Hamilton reflects on Vettel Rivalry

In 2021, Lewis Hamilton looked back on his rivalry with Sebastian Vettel, considering it as his favorite.

2021: Most Influential Black Briton

In 2021, Lewis Hamilton was named the most influential Black Briton in the Powerlist for his sporting success and advocacy in the Black Lives Matter movement and was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours.

2021: Knighthood

In the 2021 New Year Honours, Lewis Hamilton was knighted, recognizing his achievements and contributions to motorsport.

2021: Team X44 finishes second in Extreme E championship

In the 2021 season, the X44 team, owned by Lewis Hamilton, finished 2nd in the inaugural Extreme E championship, behind Nico Rosberg's RXR team.

January 2022: X44 wins Extreme E Sustainability Award

In January 2022, X44 were crowned inaugural winners of Extreme E Sustainability Award.

August 2022: Hamilton joins ownership group of Denver Broncos

In August 2022, Lewis Hamilton joined the newly established ownership group of the National Football League's Denver Broncos.

October 2022: Hamilton founds Dawn Apollo Films

In October 2022, Lewis Hamilton founded the production company, Dawn Apollo Films.

2022: Winless Season

2022 was a challenging year for Lewis Hamilton as he experienced a winless season.

2022: Challenging Season with Mercedes

In 2022, Hamilton, partnered by George Russell, experienced his first Formula One season without a race win or pole position. Technical regulation changes and issues with the Mercedes W13 car, including porpoising, led to a challenging campaign where he finished sixth in the standings, behind his teammate Russell.

2023: Winless Campaign and Contract Extension

In 2023, Hamilton endured another winless Formula 1 campaign despite several podium finishes. He secured his record ninth pole at the Hungarian Grand Prix and signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes worth over £100 million.

2023: Another Winless Season

In 2023, Lewis Hamilton faced another season without a race win, marking a difficult period in his career.

2024: Current Season

As of 2024, Lewis Hamilton continues to be the only black driver to have raced in Formula One.

2024: Departure from Mercedes Announced

In 2024, Hamilton triggered an exit-clause in his contract to leave Mercedes at the end of the season, a year before it was due to expire. He secured his ninth British Grand Prix victory, ending a 31-month winless drought, and finished the season a career-lowest seventh in the championship.

2024: Record-Breaking Ninth British Grand Prix Victory

In 2024, Lewis Hamilton achieved a record-breaking ninth British Grand Prix victory, marking his twelfth and final season with Mercedes.

2025: Signing with Ferrari

In 2025, Lewis Hamilton is set to join Ferrari, marking a significant move in his Formula One career.

2025: Joins Ferrari in 2025

In 2025, following his departure from Mercedes, Hamilton will join Ferrari on a multi-year agreement. He stated it was a "childhood dream" to drive for Ferrari.

2025: Return to Yellow Helmet Design with Ferrari Emblem

Upon signing with Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton reverted to a helmet design reminiscent of his early Formula One career, featuring yellow as the base color with red accents and the Ferrari emblem, marking a new chapter in his career.