Few names carry as much weight in Formula One as Lewis Hamilton's. A seven-time world champion and the sport's record holder for career grand prix wins, his move to Ferrari has become one of the defining storylines of the new regulation era.
From Stevenage to McLaren
Hamilton's path to Formula One began in karting in his hometown of Stevenage, England, before he progressed through McLaren's young driver program and made his grand prix debut with the team in 2007. He won his first world championship the following year, in only his second season, at the age of 23.
The Mercedes Dynasty
Hamilton's move to Mercedes in 2013 launched the most dominant stretch of his career. Between 2014 and 2020 he won six of his seven world titles, driving for a Mercedes team that won eight consecutive constructors' championships during that period. That run placed him level with Michael Schumacher's long-standing record of seven drivers' titles and made him the sport's all-time leader in race wins.
A Landmark Move to Ferrari
After twelve seasons alongside Mercedes, Hamilton's move to Ferrari for 2025 was one of the most significant driver transfers in the sport's history, pairing a seven-time champion with one of Formula One's most storied teams. His first season in red proved difficult, going the entire year without a podium finish for the first time in his career as he adapted to a new team and an unfamiliar car.
A 2026 Turnaround
The sweeping regulation reset for 2026 has coincided with a marked upturn in form. Hamilton arrived at the new season visibly more comfortable in the car, and a string of strong results built toward a landmark maiden win for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, his first grand prix victory since mid-2024 and the 106th of his career. Behind the scenes, he has been credited with taking a more vocal role in shaping his engineering setup and worked closely with a new race engineer through the winter.
A Genuine Title Contender Again
As of the British Grand Prix, Hamilton sits third in the drivers' championship, within reach of the top of the standings and running ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc for large parts of the season. At 41 years old, a run of late-career form this strong has few real precedents in the sport's history, and it has reopened genuine discussion about whether he can add a record eighth world title to his name.