Lewis Hamilton is a British Formula 1 driver for Ferrari and a seven-time world champion. As of September 2026, he is 41 years old and sits third in the F1 Drivers’ Championship after 13 Grand Prix races.
Lewis Hamilton Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton |
| Date of birth | January 7, 1985 |
| Age | 41 |
| Birthplace | Stevenage, England |
| Nationality | British |
| F1 team | Ferrari |
| Car number | 44 |
| World Championships | 7 |
| Grand Prix wins | 106 |
| Pole positions | 104 |
| Podiums | 207 |
| F1 debut | 2007 Australian Grand Prix |
Hamilton’s official Formula 1 profile lists 393 Grands Prix entered, 106 race victories, 104 pole positions, 207 podiums and seven World Championships.
Who Is Lewis Hamilton?
Lewis Hamilton is one of the most accomplished drivers in Formula 1 history. He entered the sport with McLaren in 2007 and immediately made an impact, finishing third in his first race and scoring his first victory at the Canadian Grand Prix later that season. He finished the 2007 championship runner-up by a single point.
Hamilton won his first world championship the following year. His 2008 title came in dramatic fashion after he finished fifth at the Brazilian Grand Prix, securing enough points to edge Ferrari’s Felipe Massa in the final race of the season.
That first title eventually became the beginning of a record-setting career.
How Many F1 Championships Has Lewis Hamilton Won?
Lewis Hamilton has won seven Formula 1 Drivers’ Championships.
His title-winning seasons were:
- 2008 with McLaren
- 2014 with Mercedes
- 2015 with Mercedes
- 2017 with Mercedes
- 2018 with Mercedes
- 2019 with Mercedes
- 2020 with Mercedes
His seven championships match Michael Schumacher’s record total. Hamilton completed his seventh title in 2020, a season in which he also strengthened his grip on the sport’s major statistical records.
Hamilton remains the only driver to have won more than six championships in the modern era alongside Schumacher at the seven-title mark.
Lewis Hamilton’s Career With McLaren
Hamilton’s Formula 1 career began with McLaren in 2007. His rookie season was unusually strong: he won six races, finished on the podium 12 times and ended the championship second, just one point behind Kimi Räikkönen.
In 2008, Hamilton became world champion at just 23 years old. His victory in Brazil capped a season that included five Grand Prix wins and put him on the path to becoming one of the sport’s defining drivers.
He remained with McLaren through the 2012 season before moving to Mercedes for 2013.
Why Did Lewis Hamilton Move to Mercedes?
Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013, a decision that proved crucial to the next phase of his career.
The move initially looked like a gamble because Mercedes had not yet become the dominant force it would soon be. Hamilton won his first race for the team at the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix, then took control of the championship fight once Formula 1 entered its turbo-hybrid era in 2014.
From 2014 through 2020, Hamilton won six championships in seven seasons. The only exception was 2016, when his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg took the title.
Hamilton’s partnership with Mercedes became one of the most successful driver-team combinations in F1 history. Mercedes says Hamilton won six Drivers’ Championships with the team and recorded all 105 of his victories at the time while powered by Mercedes engines.
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari
Hamilton left Mercedes after the 2024 season and began racing for Ferrari in 2025. Ferrari officially announced in February 2024 that Hamilton would join the team on a multi-year contract.
His Ferrari debut created enormous interest because it marked the first time in his F1 career that he had changed teams since joining Mercedes in 2013.
His first major Ferrari victory arrived in the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint, where he took pole and converted it into his first win for the Scuderia.
The full 2025 campaign was more difficult. Hamilton finished sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 156 points, behind Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who ended fifth with 242 points.
That changed in 2026.
What Is Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 F1 Record?
As of September 13, 2026, Hamilton is third in the Drivers’ Championship with 191 points after 13 Grands Prix. He has one Grand Prix victory, five podiums and 13 top-10 finishes. His season total also includes 20 sprint points from five sprint events.
His first Ferrari Grand Prix victory came at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on June 14. Hamilton won the race ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris, taking his first Sunday Grand Prix victory for Ferrari.
The result was particularly significant because it ended Hamilton’s wait for a conventional Grand Prix victory with Ferrari and showed that he remained capable of winning under the sport’s latest technical regulations.
After the Italian Grand Prix on September 6, the championship standings had Kimi Antonelli first with 267 points, George Russell second with 201, and Hamilton third with 191.
Lewis Hamilton’s Biggest F1 Records
Hamilton’s career numbers explain why his name is constantly part of discussions about the greatest drivers in Formula 1.
He currently holds the record for:
- 106 Grand Prix victories
- 104 pole positions
- 207 podium finishes
Formula 1 also lists Hamilton’s 106 wins and 104 poles as all-time records. His seven championships put him level with Schumacher for the most Drivers’ titles.
His longevity is another major achievement. After beginning his career with McLaren in 2007, Hamilton continued competing at the highest level into his 40s and became the oldest Grand Prix winner since Jack Brabham when he won in Barcelona in 2026.
How Old Is Lewis Hamilton?
Lewis Hamilton was born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, England. He turned 41 in January 2026.
His age is increasingly notable because Formula 1 is a sport in which drivers often reach their peak much earlier. Hamilton, however, has continued competing for wins and championship positions well beyond the age at which many drivers have retired.
He was also knighted in 2021 after receiving recognition for his achievements and contribution to motorsport.
Lewis Hamilton’s Legacy
Hamilton’s importance to Formula 1 goes beyond his statistics.
He became the sport’s first Black driver and went on to build one of its most successful careers. His rise from karting to world championship success helped make him one of the best-known figures in modern motorsport. Formula 1 describes his early career as one of the strongest rookie performances in the sport’s history.
His career has also stretched across three major eras: McLaren’s late-2000s period, Mercedes’ turbo-hybrid dominance and Ferrari’s new chapter under the latest regulations.
That makes Hamilton unusual even among F1 champions. He has not simply accumulated titles; he has remained relevant through major changes in cars, teammates, regulations and teams.
As of September 2026, his Ferrari story is still being written. After a difficult first season in red, Hamilton has rebounded with a Grand Prix victory and a place near the front of the championship. Whether he adds an eighth title remains unresolved, but his position in Formula 1 history is already secure.
Source list
- Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton – F1 Driver for Ferrari, Access Date: September 13, 2026
- Formula 1: 2026 Drivers’ Standings, Access Date: September 13, 2026
- Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton Joins Scuderia Ferrari in 2025, Access Date: September 13, 2026
- Formula 1: 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Race Result, Access Date: September 13, 2026
- Formula 1: Hamilton Claims Stellar Maiden Grand Prix Victory for Ferrari in Barcelona, Access Date: September 13, 2026
- GOV.UK: Notes on Higher Awards in the New Year Honours Overseas and International List 2021, Access Date: September 13, 2026
- Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team: In Numbers: Lewis Hamilton’s Historic F1 Career at Mercedes, Access Date: September 13, 2026
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