Lewis Hamilton: My Story

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Anthony lived in a council house in Stevenage and worked in IT for the railways. He took on extra jobs to supplement his income to find the money to support Lewis’s racing - selling double glazing, washing dishes, putting up ‘for sale’ boards for estate agents and so on. Many of the pivotal figures in his journey - such as karting supremo Martin Hines and McLaren duo Ron Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh - are well known. In 2014, when major regulation changes featured new hybrid power units in chassis with reduced downforce, Mercedes dominated the season, winning 16 of the 19 races and easily securing the Constructors’ Championship. Mercedes’ policy of letting its drivers race each other enabled team mates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to engage in an enthralling season-long duel for the driving title. Adding extra human interest to the drama was the fact that Hamilton (champion in 2008) and Rosberg (whose father Keke was champion in 1982) had been friends and rivals since their karting days as teenagers. Now, as 29-year-old protagonists competing for honours at the pinnacle of motorsport, the intensity of their rivalry strained their friendship and tested their strength of character. It has not been easy going. He has been central in F1’s decision to promote a pro-diversity agenda this year, but the messaging has left something to be desired.

Whitmarsh says: “He was very cosseted at McLaren, very controlled by two individuals he wanted to divorce himself from [his father and Dennis]. They had contributed to his growth but then ultimately limited his growth. I think he had the belief that he had to become his own man, and he had to be able to survive and grow further without those two dominant characters. He was a great kid and full of energy. He loved to mess about," he said. "Music has always been his passion and he was always playing guitar." Late that summer, Hamilton had a massive falling out with Dennis, who had made some damaging personal accusations about his driver to Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche in a vain attempt to stop Mercedes signing him. Hamilton was destabilised, and in 2011 he made an uncharacteristic series of mistakes, many of them crashes with Massa. The tale unfolded with Horner’s assertion that Hamilton, or at least his entourage (namely his father), had shown interest in donning the Red Bull overalls. Yet, Hamilton’s response during the press engagements ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was unequivocal: no such approach had been made. He clarified that the only interaction with Horner was a congratulatory message, devoid of any career manoeuvring subtext.In the British Grand Prix at Silverstone their high-speed collision sent Verstappen crashing violently into the barriers. While he was transferred to hospital for tests that found him badly shaken, Hamilton went on to win despite a time penalty after stewards found him predominantly to blame for the incident. At the Italian Grand Prix the duelling duo’s coming-together at Monza’s first corner ended terminally with the Red Bull perched precariously atop the Mercedes. For Hamilton, who escaped with wheel marks on his helmet, this was his first non-finish in 63 races. In the penultimate Saudia Arabian round, won by Hamilton ahead of Verstappen after yet another acrimonious altercation in which the Mercedes rear-ended the Red Bull, caused according to Hamilton by a dangerous ‘brake test’ manoeuvre for which his rival was assessed a time penalty. The bitterness that developed between Mercedes Toto Wolff and Red Bull’s Christian Horner during the 2021 championship year shows no sign of abating now two years on. What should have been a nothing story reported in the Daily Mail about Lewis Hamilton’s team approaching Red Bull earlier this season has now descended into farce with claim and counter claim being made. Signing has shown my commitment to the team," he said. "Let's be realistic. Every single driver that's racing here dreams of being in the winning car. Hamilton first led the championship after the fourth race of the season, taking it away from Alonso at the Spaniard’s home grand prix. The problems that led to the team unravelling began at the next race in Monaco. It is rare for me during the season to get a decent period of time at my parents’ home to spend with Nic but we did have a few this year. After the Turkish Grand Prix, for example, and before I had to travel to Italy, I went home to my parents’ house in Hertfordshire. The weather was great, Nic was there and we had fun doing all kinds of things together.

In fact I have learned something every day in this last year. I am so competitive that I always want to achieve more and more. It is a positive force for me. I want to win. You have to be realistic and remember this was my first season and that it was something special for me. I was bound to make some mistakes. I started out just hoping to learn a lot, to challenge Fernando and to prove I was worth my seat in the team. The level of expectation was a measure of how far I had gone in that space of time. Every driver here looks at the Red Bull car and would love to drive that car. I'm not saying I wouldn't love to drive that car and experience how good that car is - every driver would feel that - [but] I feel that we've had two really difficult cars and if we work towards being that car, it is going to be a way better feeling than stepping into the best car.As the man who had ended Schumacher’s domination of F1 with Ferrari, Alonso had established himself as the sport’s leading driver. Although it wasn’t in his contract, the Spaniard felt his status demanded he be McLaren’s team leader and designated championship contender. Hamilton had other ideas. There was a high level of dedication even at that stage. I remember us all sitting round the kitchen table having a Chinese and poring over the data from testing. " Lewis with Liam, right, and older brother Donall after a race meeting at Nutts Corner

As he received the congratulations of his team, Hamilton was almost overcome with emotion in the car after the race, saying: "To all the kids out there, dream the impossible." At the time, Hamilton talked of needing a change, a fresh challenge and his belief in Mercedes’ chances of success in the future, and he gives the same reasons now. All of that was true, but there was more to the decision, too. I often try to imagine myself in Nic’s position. I do not think I would be anywhere near as strong as him. There’s just so much to admire in him. So, whatever I am doing, I say to myself, ‘If you think it’s hard to do this, then think again.’ I think about Nic’s strength of character and that gives me added strength. So Nic is my inspiration – and that helps me a lot. But, in fact, my whole family are very close. We do everything we can together, and we always have done, but as I grow older and become more independent each year, I know that is probably going to change a bit – but not all that much. We have an intense bond and are a strong family. It helps us remain as normal as possible, to stay focused on the right things and not be distracted by all the stuff going on around us. We are a team, my family. We always have been. I like to think of my parents’ home as my power station, the place where I can go to seek support, rest and reassurance in the good things in life. Once out of the car, he added: "Seven is just unimaginable but when you work with such a great group of people and you really trust each other, there is just no end to what you can do together. Peerless in the car, he is a vital component in the all-conquering Mercedes team, leading by example with tireless drive and determination, inspiring the personnel to constantly strive to improve their performance, making major contributions to the way the car and the teamwork. He is a loyal team player, thanking everyone regularly. :"I couldn't have done any of this without an incredible team behind me." (During his disastrous 2020 season Sebastian Vettel much appreciated a compassionate Hamilton calling him frequently to cheer him up and motivate him.)

Lewis was successful but I hadn't grasped how special he was - you never know until you work with somebody," he says. A massive self-belief Over the past few years, Hamilton has become increasingly vocal on causes that matter to him. It started with environmentalism, then veganism, which grew out of his concerns for the health of the planet. Then, as the death of George Floyd at the hands of US police sparked a global outcry in the summer of 2020, Hamilton found the voice to speak out on the horrors and injustices of racism, systemic and otherwise. At the start, Anthony wasn't sure if they would have the budget to do the whole season," says Regan. "When McLaren came on board we were out every weekend, either racing or testing.

The 35-year-old superstar’s record-setting season, achieved with 11 wins, 10 poles and 14 podiums, made Hamilton statistically the most successful F1 driver ever. At the end of it, his 14-year, 266-race career had thus far produced 95 wins, 98 poles, 165 podiums, as well as putting him atop several other categories, with no signs of him of slowing down.According to many of those who have shared the journey with him, Hamilton is fair, generous, respectful, honest and honourable, but also ruthless, focused, self-obsessed and ultra-competitive; insular and intense but also warm and open.