Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE is a British seven-time Formula 1 champion, record holder and philanthropist. He got his first go-kart when he was six, and two years later, he was winning races and cadet class championships, becoming the youngest British cadet karting champion at the age of 10. He has since become one of the most successful Formula 1 drivers in history, known for his passion and dedication to the sport. Off the track, Lewis is a highly sought-after public speaker whose speeches are always engaging, entertaining, and informative due to his unique ability to connect with his audience and share his knowledge in a way that everyone can understand.
Lewis became the first black driver to race in the F1 series, when he made his McLaren debut in 2007 at the Australian Grand Prix. He won his first race at the Canadian Grand Prix later that year, exceeding all expectations with an impressive performance dubbed “the greatest rookie performance in F1 history”. He later won the 2008 F1 Championship, becoming the youngest Formula One World Champion in history and the first British champion since 1966.
He joined Mercedes’ F1 team in 2013, and the team went on to win won 16 of the 19 races that season, 11 of which were secured by Lewis. He was F1 victor in 2014 and 2015 and accomplished a four-year championship streak between 2017-20, tying Michael Schumacher’s record of most championship titles.
Before F1, Lewis won the F3 Master series, the F3 Euro series, the Bahrain Superprix and the GP2 Series.
He is a true sportsman who has broken multiple records and has many achievements to show for it. In F1, he has secured the most pole positions, laps led, podium finishes, career points and career wins. He has also won the Formula One World Constructors’ Championship eight times and the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship seven times.
Along with his Formula 1 achievements, Lewis has received numerous other awards, including the Pride of Britain award, three Sportsman of the year honours, two BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, and four FIA Personality of the Year awards. He was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017 and appeared in the 2020 Time 100 list of most influential people globally. In addition to his MBE, Lewis was knighted in the 2021 New Years’ Honours and dubbed Knight Bachelor in recognition of his services to motorsport.
Lewis is an outspoken activist on environmental and social issues, using his fame and profile to campaign for change. He is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in motorsport and a strong supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.
He is the Global Education Ambassador for Save the Children and supports community programs and charities such as the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Comic Relief, Make-a-Wish, Children in Need and Rays of Sunshine. In 2020 he founded The Hamilton Commission to encourage young people of colour to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Lewis is one of the world’s most successful racing drivers and an incredibly sought-after keynote speaker. He has given inspiring speeches at global events on topics such as motivation, teamwork and achieving success against the odds. His charisma and passion are evident in everything he does, making him one of the most captivating global speakers.
