Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver widely regarded as one of the greatest in Formula One history, currently competing for Ferrari. Born in Stevenage in 1985, he made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2007 as the sport's first Black driver, and secured his maiden world championship in 2008 with a dramatic last-lap overtake. After joining Mercedes in 2013, he entered a period of dominance, winning titles in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018, before claiming a record-equalling seventh championship in 2020—tied with Michael Schumacher—alongside records for most wins (106) and pole positions (104). Following a controversial runner-up finish to Max Verstappen in 2021 and winless seasons in 2022–2023, he took a record ninth British Grand Prix win in 2024 before moving to Ferrari in 2025, where he won his first race for the team in 2026. Beyond racing, Hamilton is a prominent activist for racial justice and environmental causes, was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in 2020, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2021 New Year Honours.