How did Lewis Hamilton get into F1?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 16, 2026
Lewis Hamilton set himself on a path to Formula 1 when he introduced himself to McLaren team boss Ron Dennis at an award ceremony in 1995. The nine year-old walked up to Dennis, asked for his autograph and said: “Hi. I'm Lewis Hamilton. I won the British championship and one day I want to be racing your cars.”Lewis Hamilton set himself on a path to Formula 1 when he introduced himself to McLaren team The MCL33 is the first car built by McLaren to use a customer Renault engine after the team terminated its engine supply deal with Honda after three years. It made its competitive debut at the 2018 Australian Grand Prix. › wiki › McLaren_MCL33
How did Lewis Hamilton start?
Hamilton began his driving career when he was eight years old. He won the British Kart Championship when he was 10. Three years later Hamilton was signed to the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support Programme, where he was given the support and backing he needed to train and develop his skills.
Where did Lewis Hamilton start F1?
Lewis Hamilton started his professional Formula One career in 2007, driving for McLaren. He won his first title in 2008 with the team to become the then-youngest champion in the history of the sport.
What age was Hamilton when he joined F1?
The road to F1 began in earnest when Hamilton in 1998 became the youngest driver to ever be contracted by a team when he signed for the McLaren Driver Development Support programme, aged 13.
Is Lewis Hamilton the only black F1 driver?
Hamilton remains the only Black driver at the most elite level of motorsports. He uses his platform to speak on issues of social justice and race, human rights and protection of the LBGTQ community.
44 related questions foundWho is the first Black F1 driver?
Also in 1986, Ribbs became the first black person to drive a Formula One car, when he tested for the Bernie Ecclestone-owned Brabham team at the Autódromo do Estoril, Portugal.
Who is the best F1 racer of all time?
Lewis Hamilton - 103 wins. In terms of career wins and total career points, Lewis Hamilton is the best Formula 1 driver to have ever graced a circuit.
How old was Sebastian Vettel when he won his first championship?
Sebastian Vettel's first championship, at the age of 23, provided a surprise ending to an intensely competitive 2010 campaign. There was surely more to come from this fast rising racer, and it came quickly when he completely dominated in 2011 to become the youngest double world champion.
Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
Hamilton says the only regret he has is that he didn't go plant based sooner. Not that he went from eating meat to vegan overnight. He transitioned to plant-based eating by giving up his previous diet incrementally, and that's how he would recommend you adopt a plant-based diet too.
Who is Angela to Lewis Hamilton?
The woman is Angela Cullen, and formally she is Lewis Hamilton's physiotherapist and assistant, but in reality she is so much more. She is also the seven-time champion's closest ally, friend and confidant.
Why did Lewis leave McLaren?
Lewis Hamilton left his previous team McLaren in 2012 after winning his world drivers' championship with them in 2008. The Briton left the team to try and breathe new life into his career, which was on the decline in the early 2010s.
Has Hamilton won a race every season?
Only driver to win a race in every season completed
Hamilton has won as little as one race in a season (2013), all the way up to 11 wins which he has achieved in multiple seasons since joining Mercedes. Though only three races in, he is yet to win in 2022 - failing to do so will mean his record run comes to an end.
How old was Lewis Hamilton when he won his first F1 championship?
He was the youngest driver to win the Formula One World Championship at the age of 23 years and 300 days, a record that has since then been broken by rival Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton is the first black Formula One racing driver. As a result, he has been subjected to racist abuse throughout his career.
How many F1 championships does Lewis Hamilton have?
Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver who has won seven Formula One World Championships. He made his Formula One debut with the McLaren team in 2007, achieving his first career victory in that year's Canadian Grand Prix from his maiden pole position in his sixth Grand Prix start.
Is Hamilton scared of onions?
Onions, wasting time, traffic (I dislike when everybody is in a rush but not me), aggressive people, and dishonesty. Have you ever dyed your hair? I've never done it and I don't plan to.
Is Dwayne Johnson vegan?
No, Dwayne Johnson is not vegan. He eats meat and consumes and uses other animal products as well. He starred in the “Got Milk?” campaign's first Super Bowl ad.
Is Djokovic still a vegan?
Novak Djokovic has shunned the vegan label several times, claiming that he does not want to pigeonhole himself. However, all evidence points to Djokovic being vegan, at least for the past few years. Vegan activists have indeed upheld him as a poster boy for their cause.
Who is the youngest ever F1 champion?
First championship: 2010
Sebastian Vettel entered the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 15 points shy of Fernando Alonso but emerged the youngest-ever Formula 1 world champion with his fifth victory of the season.
Who is the youngest Formula 1 champion?
Sebastian Vettel is the youngest winner of the World Drivers' Championship; he was 23 years and 134 days old when he won the 2010 championship. Fangio is the oldest winner of the World Drivers' Championship; he was 46 years and 41 days old when he won the 1957 title.
Who is the youngest F1 champion?
As neither driver scored points that day, Schumacher was crowned champion for the first time.
- Emerson Fittipaldi – Lotus – 1972 (25 years, 273 days) ...
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 2021 (24 years, 73 days) ...
- Fernando Alonso – Renault – 2005 (24 years, 58 days) ...
- Lewis Hamilton – McLaren – 2008 (23 years, 300 days)
Who is the F1 goat?
Express Sport readers still rate Lewis Hamilton as the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) in Formula One despite him missing out on the 2021 Drivers' Championship to rival Max Verstappen last Sunday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Who is better Hamilton or Verstappen?
According to the data on FormulaOnePoints.com, last season Verstappen secured 10 pole positions compared with Hamilton's 10, and the Red Bull man was faster in 13 races, compared with Hamilton's nine. Therefore, it seems at the moment that Verstappen has the edge over his bitter rival.
Is Lewis Hamilton retiring?
Lewis Hamilton fuels retirement rumours with Instagram post about mental struggles. After missing out on an eighth world title and enduring a deeply disappointing start to the season, Lewis Hamilton is almost at the point of retirement. The 37-year-old had an extremely disheartening stay in Saudi Arabia.
Has a black person ever won the Indy 500?
Ribbs is the first black driver to win a Trans-Am race, test a Formula One car, and race in the Indy 500.
