Portal:Formula One/Selected biography/9

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton MBE HonFREng (born 7 January 1985) is a British racing driver who races in Formula One for Mercedes AMG Petronas. Coming from a mixed background, with a black father and white mother, Hamilton is the first and only black driver to race in Formula One. A six-time Formula One World Champion, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport, and considered by some to be the greatest of all time. He won his first drivers' title with McLaren in 2008, before moving to Mercedes in 2013, with whom he has won a further five titles. One of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport, Hamilton's six World Championship titles is the second-most of all time, as is his tally of 105 race victories and 202 podium finishes. He currently holds the records for the all-time most career points (4862.5), the all-time most pole positions (104), the most grand slams in a season (3) and the most points in a season (413).

Hamilton has been credited with furthering Formula One's global following by appealing to a broader audience outside the sport, in part due to his high-profile lifestyle and other ventures, including his environmental activism and exploits in music and fashion. Hamilton has been targeted by racist abuse throughout his career and has been outspoken in his criticism of racial politics in Formula One as well as calling for greater diversity in the sport.

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