Lewis Hamilton's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Lewis Hamilton.

Sir Lewis Hamilton is a highly accomplished British Formula One racing driver currently racing for Ferrari. He holds a joint-record of seven Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, sharing the distinction with Michael Schumacher. Hamilton also boasts the most wins (105), pole positions (104), and podium finishes (202) in Formula One history, 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

2000: Won Karting World Cup and European Championship

In 2000, Lewis Hamilton won the direct-drive Karting World Cup and European Championship.

2005: Dominated Formula 3 Euro Series

In 2005, Lewis Hamilton moved to ASM and dominated the Formula 3 Euro Series, winning 15 of the 20 rounds.

2007: Debut in Formula One at the Australian Grand Prix

In 2007, Lewis Hamilton signed for McLaren and became the first black driver to compete in Formula One at the Australian Grand Prix.

2008: Dominant Victory at the British Grand Prix

In 2008, Hamilton won the British Grand Prix, finishing over a minute ahead of second-place Nick Heidfeld. This victory was the largest margin of victory recorded since the 1995 Australian Grand Prix, showcasing his exceptional wet-weather driving skills.

2008: Won Maiden Formula One Title

In 2008, Lewis Hamilton won his maiden Formula One World Drivers' Championship title after making a title-deciding overtake on the last lap of the last race of the season.

2008: Five race victories and maiden title win

In 2008, Lewis Hamilton, partnered with Heikki Kovalainen, achieved five race victories and 10 podium finishes. He faced close competition from Ferrari drivers and Robert Kubica. Hamilton won the rain-affected British Grand Prix by over a minute. He won his maiden title at the Brazilian Grand Prix, overtaking Timo Glock on the last lap, becoming the youngest World Drivers' Champion at the time and the first British driver since 1996 to win the title.

2009: Won with a Bad Car

In 2009, Hamilton demonstrated his ability to win even with a bad car. This highlighted his exceptional skill in extracting performance from a less competitive vehicle, a trait not all champions possess. His ability to secure victories despite vehicle limitations showcased his adaptability and talent.

2009: Challenging Start and Dramatic Improvement

In 2009, major technical regulation changes led to a challenging start for McLaren, with Hamilton often qualifying outside the top ten. His title defense became unfeasible, but major upgrades at the German Grand Prix dramatically improved the MP4-24 car's performance. From that point onward, Hamilton secured two race victories and three additional podium finishes, advancing from eleventh to fifth in the standings.

2010: Won with a Good Car

In 2010, Hamilton demonstrated his ability to win with a good car. This showcased his talent in maximizing the performance of a competitive vehicle. This period was cited to show his versatility as a driver, where he could adapt and secure victories under varying circumstances.

2011: Won with a Bad Car

In 2011, Hamilton demonstrated his ability to win even with a bad car. This highlighted his exceptional skill in extracting performance from a less competitive vehicle, a trait not all champions possess. His ability to secure victories despite vehicle limitations showcased his adaptability and talent.

2012: Won with a Good Car

In 2012, Hamilton demonstrated his ability to win with a good car. This showcased his talent in maximizing the performance of a competitive vehicle. This period was cited to show his versatility as a driver, where he could adapt and secure victories under varying circumstances.

2014: Unbeaten in Wet Weather Races

From the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix up to the 2019 German Grand Prix, Hamilton remained unbeaten in every race affected by wet weather. This streak highlighted his exceptional skill and adaptability in challenging conditions, solidifying his reputation as a top wet-weather driver.

2014: Second World Drivers' Championship

In 2014, Hamilton secured a career-best 11 victories and won his second World Drivers' Championship after a season-long duel with teammate Rosberg. Despite some mid-season misfortunes, he clinched the title at the final round in Abu Dhabi.

2015: Third World Drivers' Championship

In 2015, Lewis Hamilton fended off Rosberg to win his third World Drivers' Championship, winning 10 races. He led the championship throughout the season and clinched the title at the United States Grand Prix. He also extended his contract with Mercedes.

2016: Top 10 ranking in the Powerlist

In 2016, Lewis Hamilton ranked in the top 10 in the Powerlist, an annual list of the most influential Black Britons.

2017: Gold helmet with four stars at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

After winning his fourth title in 2017, Lewis Hamilton entered the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in a gold helmet with four stars adorning the top of the helmet with the words "World Champion".

2017: Consecutive Point-Scoring Finishes

In 2017, Hamilton began a streak of 33 consecutive races in point-scoring positions. This run highlighted his consistency and reliability as a driver during this period. The stretch, which demonstrated his skill in maintaining competitive performance, continued into the next year.

2017: Top 10 ranking in the Powerlist

In 2017, Lewis Hamilton ranked in the top 10 in the Powerlist, an annual list of the most influential Black Britons.

2017: Fourth World Drivers' Title

In 2017, after Valtteri Bottas partnered with Hamilton, Hamilton won his fourth World Drivers' title at the Mexican Grand Prix. He registered 11 pole positions, nine race victories, and equaled the record for most grand slams in a season (3).

2018: Fifth World Drivers' Title

In 2018, Hamilton secured his fifth World Drivers' title at the Mexican Grand Prix. He secured 11 pole positions and race victories from 17 podium finishes. During the season, Hamilton signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes.

2018: Gold helmet with five stars

In 2018, Lewis Hamilton used a gold helmet design with five stars, similar to the one he used in 2017.

2018: Named PETA Person of the Year

In 2018, Lewis Hamilton was named the PETA Person of the Year for his vegan activism. He also stated that he gave up drinking 'a while ago'.

2018: Nearly Flawless Performance

In 2018, Ross Brawn noted that Hamilton had a nearly flawless performance, winning races he should have and some where the opposition was stronger. Brawn's comments highlighted Hamilton's ability to outperform expectations and secure victories against tough competition during the 2018 season.

2019: Sixth World Drivers' Title

In 2019, Hamilton clinched his sixth title at the United States Grand Prix. He scored his sixth career grand slam at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and ended the season with 11 race wins in 17 podiums, breaking his own record for most points by scoring a total of 413 points.

2019: Gold helmet with six stars

In 2019, Lewis Hamilton used a gold helmet design with six stars, continuing the tradition from the previous years.

2019: Representative of the Sport

In 2019, Luke Slater of The Telegraph argued that Hamilton was one of the best representatives of the sport, both on and off the track. Slater's comments highlighted Hamilton's positive impact and influence beyond just his racing achievements.

2020: Victory at the Turkish Grand Prix

In 2020, Hamilton won the Turkish Grand Prix, securing his seventh world title. He gambled on a one-stop strategy in mixed conditions, leading to a victory by over 30 seconds and was hailed as one of his greatest performances.

2020: Equaled Record for Most F1 World Championship Titles

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton broke several records, including the all-time win record at the Portuguese Grand Prix, to claim his record-equalling seventh Formula One World Championship title.

2020: Seventh Drivers' Title

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton dominated the season to win his seventh Drivers' title, equalling the record set by Schumacher. He secured 10 pole positions and 11 race victories. Hamilton missed the Sakhir Grand Prix after contracting COVID-19. He clinched the title at the rain-affected Turkish Grand Prix.

2020: Listed as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton was listed as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people globally.

2020: Knighthood and Influence

In 2020, following Hamilton's knighthood, Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali stated that Hamilton is a "true giant of our sport" and that "his influence is huge both in and out of a car". Domenicali's statement emphasized Hamilton's significant impact and status within and beyond the sport.

May 2021: Laureus Athlete Advocate of the Year Award

In May 2021, Lewis Hamilton was the inaugural recipient of the Laureus Athlete Advocate of the Year Award.

2021: Knighted in the New Year Honours

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

2021: Most influential Black Briton in the Powerlist and Knighthood

In 2021, Lewis Hamilton was named the most influential Black Briton in the 14th Powerlist, and was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to motorsports.

2021: Praised for Consistency

In 2021, Martin Brundle praised Hamilton for his consistency, lack of mistakes, and completeness as a driver. Brundle emphasized Hamilton's ability to avoid errors in wheel-to-wheel combat and qualifying, as well as his mental and physical endurance during the 2021 season.

January 2022: X44 wins Extreme E Sustainability Award

In January 2022, Team X44 was crowned inaugural winners of the Extreme E Sustainability Award.

2023: Winless Campaign and Contract Extension

In 2023, Hamilton faced another winless campaign amidst Red Bull's dominance, securing several podium finishes and finishing third in the standings. He achieved a record ninth pole at the Hungarian Grand Prix, his first since 2021, and signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes for over £100 million.