Lewis Hamilton: Age, Career, Relationship, Net Worth & More

Lewis Hamilton is a British Formula One driver, driving for Scuderia Ferrari and is one of the greatest racing drivers in the history of the sport. Seven-time World Drivers’ Champion, he is the winner of the most races, driver to set the most poles and the one with the most podium finishes in F1. Hamilton’s reach extends beyond the sport, as he has cultivated a public image in fashion, filmmaking, business endeavours, and social causes, positioning him as one of the world’s most recognizable sports figures for the 2026 season. 

Who is Lewis Hamilton?

Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton is a British racing driver, a milestone first in 2007, when he became the first black driver to race in Formula One – a feat he has maintained since 2026. After spending almost 20 years driving for McLaren, Mercedes and now Ferrari, he received knighting in 2021 for services to motorsport. In his personal life, he is known for his collaborations on fashion, his production company and his efforts in the field of diversity and environment. 

Lewis Hamilton Age

Lewis Hamilton was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire on 7 January 1985, which means he will be 41 years old by the start of the 2026 Formula One season. Now he’s the second oldest racer on the grid as he is just turning 28 and was a 22 year old rookie last time with McLaren. 

Physical Appearance and Lifestyle

Hamilton stands between 5 feet 8 inches (1.74 metres) and 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 metres) and is around the average height for current Formula 1 drivers. It is suggested that he races at approximately 73kg (160lbs). He has been a vegan since 2017, believing in the importance of protecting the environment and animals; he stated that he stopped drinking alcohol several years ago. One of the fittest drivers on the grid is believed to be him. 

Family Background

• Father: Anthony Hamilton, of Afro-Grenadian descent, who managed Lewis’s racing career until early 2010.
• Mother: Carmen Larbalestier, White British, from Birmingham — making Hamilton mixed-race.
• Parents’ separation: Anthony and Carmen separated when Lewis was two years old.
• Childhood with his mother: Lewis lived with his mother and older half-sisters, Samantha and Nicola, until he was twelve.
• Move to his father’s household: At twelve, he moved in with his father, stepmother Linda, and half-brother Nicolas Hamilton.
• Half-brother: Nicolas Hamilton is also a professional racing driver and competes in touring cars; he has cerebral palsy.
• Financial sacrifice: To fund Lewis’s early karting career, Anthony Hamilton worked as many as four jobs at once, including as a double-glazing salesman and a dishwasher, while still attending every race.

Early Life and Education

Hamilton attended The John Henry Newman School (Catholic Secondary School) in Stevenage, and was brought up Catholic. His racing career was gathering pace as he started sixth form studies at Cambridge Arts and Sciences (CATS), a private sixth-form college in February 2001. Motor racing had a greater influence on his childhood than school achievements, and he soon became a success in the karting. 

Early Career and Background

• First taste of racing: Hamilton’s father bought him a radio-controlled car at age five; he finished second in the national BRCA championship the following year against adult competitors.
• Karting beginnings: He began karting in 1993 and quickly started winning cadet class championships, becoming the youngest driver to win the British cadet karting title at age ten.
• McLaren connection: In 1995, a young Hamilton approached McLaren boss Ron Dennis and told him he wanted to race for the team one day; three years later, Dennis signed him to the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Programme.
• Junior titles: He won the Karting World Cup and European Championship in 2000, the Formula Renault UK title in 2003, the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2005, and the GP2 Series in 2006.
• Facing racism early: As the only Black child racing at his local club, Hamilton experienced racist abuse from a young age, an experience he has spoken about throughout his career.

Professional Career

In 2007, Hamilton was introduced to Formula One in the sport’s history as the first black driver and joined the McLaren team. His debut year set numerous records and he was runner-up just one point shy. His first World Championship was accomplished in 2008 at the final race of the year, the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he was the youngest World Champion in history.

In 2013, Hamilton switched his allegiance to Mercedes, which at the time was considered a risky move. It proved to be a game-changer, as she would go on to win titles in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, tying Michael Schumacher’s seven championship record. He ended up in controversy to lose an eighth championship title in a late safety car restart at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that let Max Verstappen sit above him on the final lap. In 2022 and 2023, it was another winless year as new technical rules were introduced, and Hamilton finally won his record ninth British Grand Prix in his final year with Mercedes in 2024.

After many years of driving for Mercedes, Hamilton has signed for Ferrari for 2025, marking what he described as a “childhood dream. His first year at Maranello wasn’t easy, but a significant turnaround took place in 2026, with his first Grand Prix victory for the team. 

Major Projects and Roles

Personal Life & Relationship

Hamilton has generally kept his romantic life more private than his career, though several relationships have drawn heavy media attention over the years.

• Nicole Scherzinger (2007–2015): His most significant long-term relationship, with the singer, was on-and-off for around eight years after they met at the MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2007. He has publicly acknowledged the relationship and its final split.
• High-profile links (2015–2024): Following his split with Scherzinger, Hamilton was linked — with varying degrees of confirmation — to a number of public figures including Gigi Hadid, Rita Ora, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Winnie Harlow, Sofia Richie Grainge, and Kendall Jenner (whom he has described as “just friends”). Most of these were never formally confirmed by Hamilton.
• On career over relationships: In a 2025 interview with Belgian broadcaster RTBF, Hamilton said he had not had a long-term relationship in close to a decade, explaining that he has prioritised his racing performance over settling down.
• On wanting children: In a September 2024 interview with The Sunday Times, Hamilton said he hopes to have children one day, once his racing career allows.
• Kim Kardashian (2026–present): Hamilton and Kim Kardashian’s friendship dates back to 2014, but romance rumours intensified in early 2026 following reports of a private meetup in Europe. The pair appeared to confirm the relationship with an Instagram video, and Kardashian made her first Formula One paddock appearance to support him at the Monaco Grand Prix in June 2026.
• No children; close bond with his dog: Hamilton has no children as of 2026. He is well known for his close relationship with his dog, Roscoe, who has become a public figure in his own right, including receiving a digital likeness in the video game Fortnite.

Interesting Facts About Lewis Hamilton

• He holds the all-time F1 records for most wins (106), most pole positions (104), and most podium finishes (206).
• He is tied with Michael Schumacher for the most World Drivers’ Championships (seven).
• He was the first, and as of 2026 still the only, Black driver to compete in Formula One.
• He was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to motorsport.
• He races under car number 44, taken from his father’s old Vauxhall Cavalier number plate.
• He co-founded the production company Dawn Apollo Films, which produced the 2025 movie F1, starring Brad Pitt.
• He has released music under the pseudonym XNDA, including a feature on Christina Aguilera’s 2018 album Liberation.
• He owns a stake in the NFL’s Denver Broncos.

Net Worth

The net worth of Hamilton estimated by sources ranges widely from about $285 million to $550 million in 2026, depending on the value of his business papers. He earns money from his contract with Ferrari (one of the best-paid in F1 history), sponsorships, his production company, his brand of non-alcoholic spirits Almave, his Denver Broncos investment and other fashion initiatives. His clean food enterprise, Neat Burger, the vegan version of McDonald’s, is closed in 2025 over financial losses. 

Social Media Presence

By a long shot, Hamilton is the most-followed Formula One driver on social media. In mid-2026, his Instagram following reached 43 million, and he had hundreds of thousands of new followers in just two weeks following his first win at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in his first Ferrari race. His content is a blend of racing action, fashion, music, and philanthropy, showcasing his impact beyond the racing world. 

Note: Follower counts fluctuate; Instagram and Facebook figures above are drawn from verified account pages and social analytics trackers current as of mid-2026. His X/Twitter follower count could not be confirmed from a reliable, current source at the time of writing.

Controversies

Hamilton also has a history of racist taunts from some of the sport’s supporters, such as when he was racially taunted at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2007 and at pre-season testing in Spain in 2008. In 2017, the leaked Paradise Papers exposed that he also avoided payment of VAT on a private jet which was still involved in the transaction, as reported by UK lawmakers, and sold in 2019. The comment made by the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in December 2018 to escape “the slums” immediately caused controversy and he clarified and apologised for this remark. His 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix win (which he had to settle for an eighth place due to a record number of points deducted) was one of the most controversial in F1 history and resulted in an FIA investigation. 

Recent Work

Hamilton was looking to get a tough Ferrari start season over with in 2026 as he will need to work closely with team management regarding car development, which is always a key factor in the changes to the rules of the season. He steadily climbed the rankings throughout the year, winning a first podium in Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix, culminating in more podium finishes in Canada and Monaco and his first Ferrari win at the very first Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix where he came into the Drivers’ Championship second. He is currently still signed with Ferrari till the end of 2027 and reportedly talks are ongoing about extending him’s contract. 

Conclusion

Lewis Hamilton’s journey from the working class roots in Stevenage to seven world championships and the prestigious team of Formula One is a testament to his resilience, talent, and ability to adapt. He has leveraged his platform to promote diversity and social issues, as well as building up a business outside of racing. With Ferrari on his resume, Hamilton continues to live his life in his forties and will likely remain one of the most influential figures in the sport, and that’s only the beginning of his story.

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