The Lewis Hamilton story is a tale like no other, the likes of which we may never see again
I want to share something with you. Of all the drivers that race in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton is the one I root for, the driver I support. I am a Lewis Hamilton fan. It perhaps doesn’t come as much of a surprise reading between the lines. In light of my disclosure, I want to take a moment to reflect on the reasons why. It’s not just that I think he’s the best F1 driver ever, but he’s also the most interesting, and the easiest to relate to.
Hamilton’s F1 career statistics are astonishing. He has seven world drivers’ championships, a joint-record held with Michael Schumacher, and is locked in a tight title fight for a record breaking eighth. He holds the record for the most race wins, scoring his 101st victory at the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, in a sensational drive against the odds. He has secured 101 pole positions, the most of any driver in history. And he’s stood on the podium 179 times, more than any other driver.
In every statistical measure that matters, Hamilton is the indisputable best. It's mind-blowing just contemplating the scale of his achievements, they are quite incredible. Furthermore, if you delve deeper into his accolades in context with the 284 races he’s started, and the significance of his success is really put into focus. He has won 35% of races and secured 35% of pole positions in events that he’s competed in, which both work out as a one in three success ratio.
To ascertain the true calibre of a driver, you judge how they perform in a substandard car. In his F1 career, Hamilton has outperformed and won races in inferior cars, and there are examples of just that in the 2021 season. More often than not, the Mercedes W12 has been the second fastest car on the grid, yet he has shown he can extract everything out of it and achieve results despite its inadequacy, most memorably at the Bahrain Grand Prix when he beat Max Verstappen despite driving a car not quick enough to win.
"Spare me the bullshit that Verstappen is superior. Hamilton is statistically the greatest driver of all time. Period"
It was one of the most dazzling displays I have seen from Hamilton. It was remarkable. The fact that he is contending for the 2021 championship in a car that hasn't been quick enough in a considerable number of races is testament to that. His skills are sprinkled with stardust. It’s why I believe Hamilton is the best driver there has ever been. Spare me the bullshit that Verstappen is superior. Hamilton is statistically the greatest driver of all time. Period.
Another determinant that defines the true calibre of a driver is the psychological state of mind. Across the 2021 São Paulo Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton elevated to another, even higher level, one I’ve not seen before. His performances were mesmerising. What impressed me most of all was that in spite of everything going against him and Mercedes, they still defied the odds, and prevailed. It was a masterclass in not just driving skill, but in mental fortitude. It was extraordinary.
His comeback is another example of his brilliance, and again shows just why I think he is the best driver the sport has ever seen. The tight 2021 title fight is playing into the hands of Hamilton, it’s making him a stronger and better driver as he squeezes everything out of himself just to compete. He has found a level that I think no driver has ever reached. His excellence puts him in a league of his own. I shall analyse the on track action and off-track politics in Brazil in my 2021 season review.
Hamilton’s ability to perform at such a high level, and sustain that not only throughout a season, but maintain it year after year, is really outstanding. Such is his relentless consistency; he has finished on the podium 62% of the time and has scored points in 86% of races. This phenomenal track record highlights how reliable he is, and how he can be counted on to deliver results. Provided he has the car beneath him, there is no limit to his potential.
As a driver, and as a person, Hamilton is hard to find fault with. He has next to no weaknesses or vices. It’s obvious that he’s a rare and special talent, and I do admire his incredible achievements. It was apparent right from his breathtaking debut season racing for McLaren in 2007 that his destiny was written in the stars. Yet Hamilton is so much more than just the greatest driver ever. His backstory is tantamount to a fairytale, the stuff of dreams.
This is an aspect that resonates with me powerfully on a personal level. When you consider the type of sport that F1 is, the expensive costs it takes just to have the opportunity of racing in categories, let alone have the talent, mentality and work ethic, Hamilton's story has to be the greatest of them all, without a doubt. It's something like a Disney film, but in real life. In fact, his life story would make a compelling movie. It would seem that Hamilton’s journey from the outset has been one up against the odds, and defying them. It appears to be part of a pattern in his life path.
It's an inspirational tale. Unlike most drivers on the current grid, his dad wasn’t a former driver, nor did he come from a wealthy background. He and his dad Anthony instead battled against financial struggles and racism. When he was five years old, he tried out a neighbours radio-controlled car, after he showed promise, Anthony bought him one. Competing against adults, Hamilton went on to finish second in the national BRCA championship the following year. However, being the only black child at the racing club, he was subjected to racist abuse.
It must have been a really difficult period for him, as at this time, Hamilton learnt karate to defend himself at school from bullying. He was also wrongfully excluded from school for being mistakenly identified as having attacked another student. These painful experiences created wounds that cut deep, and have had a lasting impact, shaping the person he is. The disgusting behaviour he endured is not just disgraceful, but deeply damaging. It’s outrageous to think that Hamilton was subjected to such discrimination, and the treatment must be really hurtful for anyone, let alone a young child.
"I’m a fan of Hamilton as much for the person that he is. His backstory brings a dose of reality to the F1 bubble"
When he was six years old, his dad Anthony bought a tenth hand kart for Christmas, and spent time improving it with new parts and cleaning it up. The finances it took for Hamilton to compete meant Anthony taking on three jobs at one stage to make it possible, and it’s clear that without the sacrifices he made, Hamilton would never have raced in F1, let alone be statistically the greatest driver of all time. It was at the Rye House karting track where Hamilton learnt his trade.
Anthony found the fastest driver, discovered where he was braking, and went a few metres further, and made Hamilton brake there. It took some time to get to grips with the demanding braking point. He crashed out and spun out a lot, but managed to get the hang of it. Hamilton soon started winning races and championships, which is really rather remarkable. Others had more money, he had more natural talent. His potential was spotted aged 13 when he signed a deal with McLaren, which was not only a lifeline for his aspirations, but relieved his family of the financial burden fuelling his efforts of realising his ambition.
It’s these reasons which differentiate Hamilton in the starkest of ways that I identify with. The adversity he went through was the making of him; it didn’t break him. He is a product of his background and that is mirrored in his missionary efforts to make the pinnacle of motorsport more diverse and inclusive. In the weeks before the delayed start to the 2020 season caused by the Covid pandemic, he attended a Black Lives Matter march in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in America.
The atrocity coincided with the launch of the Hamilton Commission in June 2020, a project to investigate why so few ethnic minorities were involved in motorsport. The research was conducted by the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the findings were published in July 2021. It uncovers the systemic causes and provides ten recommendations for F1 and teams in the paddock to implement in order to bring about racial equality of opportunity for black people.
I’m a fan of Hamilton as much for the person that he is. His backstory brings a dose of reality to the F1 bubble, which he has burst quite spectacularly on occasions, and the lack of racial inclusivity within the sport is probably his most seismic tremor. He has certainly shaken the pinnacle of motorsport up. The influence Hamilton now has in terms of creating change of any sort in the sport is at its peak, and I would encourage him to use that power for good.
In addition to the Hamilton Commission, a joint charitable foundation has been established with Mercedes called Accelerate 25 that aims to recruit at least 25% of new starters from underrepresented groups until 2025. Hamilton contributed £20m of his personal wealth to this initiative, which not only shows his kindness and generosity, it also demonstrates that he’s engaged and cares about institutional and systemic issues that exist in F1. But it shows something much more significant, that actions really do speak louder than just words alone.
It’s clear that Hamilton is unique, not just a record breaker on track, but a changemaker off track too. He has spoken out about human rights violations and Sportswashing accusations. He has also talked about environmental issues and animal rights. To use his platform in this way spotlighting topical subjects is an act of decency to try and promote progressive and positive changes.
There’s so much to like about Hamilton. There’s so much that’s good about Hamilton. I was already reflecting on my meat and dairy diet in 2019, but The Game Changers documentary on Netflix is what convinced me to change to a plant-based diet. For my health, the sustainability of the planet and for ethical reasons associated with slaughtering animals, the production persuaded me of the benefits. Without Hamilton’s involvement, I may not have known anything about it.
"From a personal perspective, there are more similarities than differences"
Compared and contrasted to other drivers on the F1 grid, his passions do make Hamilton much more interesting too. The capsule collections he has designed with American brand Tommy Hilfiger showcase his creative credentials, and I have liked the clothing he has produced. He’s not afraid of getting out of his comfort zone to explore his curiosities. There is life outside F1, and he makes the most of it. And from a personal perspective, there are more similarities than differences. Hamilton is an Arsenal fan. So am I. He is a scuba diver. So am I. He is also a runner. So am I.
For the record, I like Team Principle Toto Wolff too. Like Hamilton, he didn’t come from a wealthy background and his story is equally admirable and inspiring. His leadership of Mercedes in cultivating a high-performance culture is a fundamental piece of the puzzle that pushes the team progressively forwards with continuous improvements. And I like the general mindset the team has: "f**k them all" is a motivating mantra that expresses your winning mentality with passion!
Nobody’s perfect though. Taking my fan cap off for fair and objective scrutiny, and there are subjects that, if they came up in conversation, me and Hamilton would probably respectfully disagree about. But I don’t want to elaborate on these matters here, nor do I think it’s necessary, as the topics of discord really are few and far between, and the positives do by far outweigh the small number of negatives. We mustn’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
It's strange that some people do not appreciate just how good Hamilton is. He does appear to receive an abnormal amount of hate. I do think undertones of racism is a significant reason why. His immediate success with McLaren also seems to irk with some people too, oddly. And so routine is Hamilton’s success, his success is taken for granted. People resent him; people are bored of him. They instead opt to cheer for underdogs, as it’s perceived that he wins all the time.
He doesn't win all the time, of course. It’s upsetting to me that he receives such hostility, it makes my blood boil, as the rationale for disliking Hamilton has no justification or foundation whatsoever. It’s sad really and a shame too, as he won’t be racing in F1 forever. People really should be making the most of him while they can. As a member of #TeamLH, I do worry about the future of F1 when he does retire, because I realised a long time ago that he's the biggest reason why I watch. I make it a priority to watch races. Will it still be when Hamilton stops? I’m not so sure. I hope so.
The 2021 season is surely one of his biggest challenges, and as it nears the endgame, it would surely be one of his greatest achievements if he were to win a record breaking eighth title. I still stand by my prediction; I think Hamilton and Mercedes will prevail. He is the best driver racing for the best team. But no matter the outcome, they can both rest assured that they have an ally in me.
Photos: LAT Images
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