The Man at the Top: Lewis Hamilton

Championship, race-winning, podium, pole position, winning on different tracks, season points, leading the f1 season, no matter what statistic we look at, Hamilton is always in the top three.

14 Facts About the Turkish Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton, a British race-car driver who was one of the most successful Formula 1 Grand Prix racing drivers of all time, owns the F1 record for career race victories seven times and is tied with Michael Schumacher’s most drivers championships.

Hamilton began his driving career when he was eight years old. He won the British Kart Championship when he was 10. That year, wearing a borrowed suit and shoes, picked up two trophies at a motorsport awards ceremony in London. Brandishing an autograph book prepared by his father, he approached Ron Dennis, the McLaren Mercedes Formula One team’s boss. “I said, ‘Hello Mr. Dennis, I’m Lewis Hamilton, and one day I’d like to race for your team.’ I asked him for his autograph and his phone number. He put them in my book and also wrote ‘Call me in nine years.'”

Made the call only three years later, and the Hamilton household’s phone rang. It was Ron Dennis who offered to support their son’s career for the foreseeable future financially, provided Lewis continued to work hard at the school, so he 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. From 1998 to 2000, he won European and world karting championships, and at age 15, he became the youngest-ever driver to be ranked number one in the sport.

In 2007 Hamilton joined the McLaren F1 team. He came in second in the world drivers’ championship in his rookie season, only one point behind the winner, Finland’s Kimi Räikkönen. His four-race victories that year tied Jacques Villeneuve’s F1 record for most wins in a rookie season. The following year, at the age of 23, he won the first drivers’ championship. After 2008, he was also champion in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and lastly 2020. He is currently at the top of formula 1.

Hamilton, who is also active in his social life, has been a vocal and prominent campaigner against racism since the death of American George Floyd in May.

He performed the Black Power salute on top of his Mercedes car and top of the podium after winning the Styrian Grand Prix and has taken a knee before every race this year, urging drivers who have stood to join him.

He has been campaigning passionately against racial injustice with a series of powerful statements on social media over the past months.

Went down to Hyde Park today for the peaceful protest and I was so proud to see in person so many people of all races and backgrounds supporting this movement. It was really moving. I’m feeling extremely positive that change will come, but we cannot stop now. #blacklivesmatter ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/koOTEPOXAh

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) June 21, 2020

He is also known for his environmental sensibility. In 2018, he called on people to stop using plastic and polystyrene after cleaning a beach that was covered in rubbish.

In a video posted to his Twitter feed, the Formula One world champion called the litter “disgusting” and urged his followers not to buy plastic and polystyrene.

https://twitter.com/LewisHamilton/status/1026834810428444672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1026834810428444672%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.sky.com%2Fstory%2Ff1-world-champion-lewis-hamilton-cleans-up-plastic-littered-beach-11464863

2020 Turkish GP