Lewis Hamilton: 25 Career-Defining Moments as He Joins Ferrari’s SF-25

Few moves in Formula 1 history have generated as much excitement as Lewis Hamilton’s move to Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 season. After an incredible tenure with Mercedes, the seven-time world champion will begin a new chapter as he chases an unprecedented eighth title in Ferrari’s iconic red. With the SF-25 as his new car, Hamilton enters a new era and adds another exciting twist to his legendary career.  

To celebrate this milestone, we look back at 25 defining moments from Hamilton’s journey. 

 

1. Birth near Silverstone (1985) 

Born on 7 January 1985 in Stevenage, England, Lewis Hamilton grew up close to the iconic Silverstone circuit, often referred to as the “home of British motorsport”. Being close to such a legendary track may have subtly fueled his early fascination with racing. Later, Hamilton would go on to win a record-breaking 9 Grand Prix at the circuit. 

 

2. First Remote-Controlled Car (1991) 

Hamilton received his first remote-controlled car at the age of five. More than a toy, it became his first taste of competition. Competing in the British Radio Car Association Championship, he impressed everyone by finishing second against adult competitors, giving an early glimpse of the talent that would drive his future in motorsport. 

 

3. Karting Debut at Eight (1993) 

At the age of six, Hamilton was given a go-kart by his father for Christmas. He started karting in 1993 and quickly became successful, winning races and cadet championships. At the age of ten, he became the youngest driver to win the British Cadet Karting Championship. His father, Anthony, supported his early career by working multiple jobs to fund his racing ambitions. 

 

4. Joining McLaren’s Young Driver Programme (1998) 

In 1998, after winning his second Super One series and the British Championship, Hamilton received a life-changing phone call. McLaren-Mercedes offered him a place in their Young Driver Programme, a contract that came with the potential of a future Formula One seat. This made him the youngest driver ever to secure a contract that would eventually lead to a place on the F1 grid. 

 

5. World Karting Champion at Fifteen (2000) 

At just 15, Lewis Hamilton dominated the karting scene, winning the World Karting Championship in the Formula A class and becoming European champion with a perfect score. During this time, he shared the track with Nico Rosberg as teammate in both Formula A and Super Formula A, foreshadowing their future partnership (and rivalry) at Mercedes from 2013 to 2016. 

 

6. Dominance in Formula Renault (2001-2003) 

Making the leap to race cars in 2001, Hamilton entered the British Formula Renault Winter Series, where he gained valuable on-track experience. By 2003, he left no doubt about his talent, dominating the championship with 10 wins in 15 races. Clear proof that he was ready to take on even bigger challenges. 

 

7. Success in Formula 3 Euro Series (2004-2005) 

Stepping up to the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2004, Hamilton finished fifth in his debut season. That same year, he got his first taste of F1, testing with McLaren at Silverstone. He returned to Formula 3 in 2005 and put on a masterclass, winning 15 of the 20 races to take the championship in dominant fashion.   

 

8. GP2 Series Champion (2006) 

In 2006, Hamilton took on the GP2 championship and won it at the first attempt, demonstrating his exceptional adaptability and skill in intense wheel-to-wheel racing. His dominant performance left no doubt that he was more than ready for the next step. The following year, he would make his long-awaited Formula One debut. 

 

9. Formula One debut with McLaren (2007) 

Hamilton’s Formula One debut in 2007 was nothing short of spectacular. Teaming up with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren, he made an immediate impact, finishing third in his first race. His rookie season was record-breaking: he secured the most consecutive debut podiums (9), the most wins by a rookie (4) and the highest points tally in a debut season (109). It was clear from the start that Hamilton was a force to be reckoned with. 

 

10. Near Championship in Rookie season (2007) 

In 2007, Lewis Hamilton made history as the youngest driver to lead the world championship in his rookie season. However, despite his incredible performance, a series of misfortunes in the final races saw him narrowly miss out on the title, finishing just one point behind Kimi Räikkönen. It was a heartbreaking end to an extraordinary debut year, but it was only the beginning of his journey to the top. 

 

11. First World Championship (2008) 

The 2008 season saw Hamilton win his first world championship with McLaren in one of the most dramatic finales in F1 history. He needed to finish fifth in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix to secure the title. In a heart-stopping moment, he made a crucial overtake in the final corner of the final lap to take fifth place and the championship by just one point. At the age of 23, he became the youngest ever F1 World Champion and marked the start of a legendary career. 

 

12. Move to Mercedes (2013) 

After Hamilton’s first championship, F1 entered an era largely dominated by Red Bull. Regulatory changes in 2009 put McLaren on the back foot and made a title defense impossible. Despite his talent, regaining the championship in a McLaren proved to be an uphill battle. Then, at the end of 2012, Hamilton made a bold decision – he announced his departure from McLaren to join Mercedes for the 2013 season.   

 

13. Mercedes breakthrough and titles (2014-2015) 

Hamilton’s move to Mercedes proved to be an incredible decision, as he dominated the sport with back-to-back world championships in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, he put in the best performance of his career, winning 11 races in a fierce battle with teammate Nico Rosberg throughout the season. The title battle went down to the wire, with Hamilton sealing his second championship at the final race in Abu Dhabi. He was even more dominant the following year, clinching his third title with three races to spare and establishing himself as the man to beat in F1. 

 

14. Intense Rivalry and Rosberg’s Triumph (2016) 

The 2016 season was marked by an intense and often heated rivalry between Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg. With the team allowing them to race freely, tensions ran high and led to several on-track collisions. In the end, Rosberg edged out Hamilton by just five points to claim his first and only world championship. Then, in a shocking twist, Rosberg announced his sudden retirement from F1, bringing their long-standing rivalry — dating back to their karting days — to an unexpected end. 

 

15. Return to dominance (2017) 

Following Rosberg’s retirement, Hamilton bounced back. At the 2017 Italian Grand Prix, he overtook Sebastian Vettel in the standings to take the championship lead. That same weekend, he made history by breaking the record for most pole positions in F1 history. He carried that momentum throughout the season, eventually securing his fourth World Drivers’ Championship in dominant fashion. 

 

16. Fight for five (2018) 

In 2018, Hamilton faced another fierce battle with Ferrari as he and Vettel went head-to-head in the so-called ‘Fight for Five’. The title race was intense, but Hamilton pulled ahead in the second half of the season with a series of crucial victories. As in 2017, he sealed the championship at the Mexican Grand Prix to claim his fifth world title. 

 

17. Continued dominance (2019-2020) 

Hamilton led the championship for most of the 2019 season and again in 2020. Even though the 2020 season was heavily impacted by the restrictive policies surrounding the coronavirus, he remained unstoppable and secured his seventh world title. In doing so, he equaled Michael Schumacher’s long-standing record and further cemented his place among the greatest drivers in F1 history. 

 

18. Lewis Hamilton vs. Max Verstappen (2021) 

Changes to the regulations in 2021 saw Red Bull close the gap on Mercedes, setting the stage for a fierce title battle between Hamilton and Verstappen. The battle was intense, with the two drivers colliding three times throughout the season and finishing 1-2 in 14 of the 22 races. Every race felt like a showdown as the championship went down to the wire in one of the most dramatic seasons in F1 history. 

 

19. Abu Dhabi (2021) 

The 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix produced one of the most controversial finishes in F1 history. Hamilton had dominated most of the race and was on the verge of clinching a record-extending eighth title. But a late safety car and a controversial restart decision set up a dramatic final lap showdown. Verstappen seized the opportunity with a last-lap overtake that denied Hamilton the championship in a moment that is still hotly debated in the world of motorsport. 

 

20. Knighted by the British Monarch (2021) 

In 2021, Hamilton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his outstanding contributions to motorsport. He became the fourth F1 driver to receive this prestigious honor, highlighting not only his incredible achievements on the track but also his influence and impact beyond racing. 

 

21. First winless season (2022) 

The 2022 season was a challenging one for Hamilton, who failed to win a single race for the first time in his F1 career. Mercedes struggled to adapt to new aerodynamic regulations, making the W13 difficult to handle and uncompetitive. As a result, Hamilton suffered his lowest ever championship finish in a season that tested both his patience and resilience. 

 

22. Ongoing challenges (2023) 

The 2023 season brought similar struggles for Hamilton. Although he secured six podium finishes, he once again failed to win a race. Despite Mercedes’ continued struggles, he fought hard and finished third in the championship. Although still a fierce competitor, it was clear that Mercedes was no longer the dominant force they had once been, raising questions about the team’s ability to return to the top. 

 

23. Triumph at Silverstone After a long drought (2024) 

In 2024, Hamilton finally returned to the top step of the podium with a historic victory in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The victory – his ninth at the circuit – ended a drought of almost three years and was hailed as one of the most memorable moments of his career. The triumph not only electrified his home crowd but also proved that Hamilton was still a force to be reckoned with in Formula One. 

 

24. The end of an era at Mercedes (2024) 

The 2024 season marked the end of an era for Hamilton as he announced his departure from Mercedes after more than a decade of success. In a move that sent shockwaves through the F1 world, he confirmed his long-awaited move to Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 season. The move set the stage for an exciting new chapter in his legendary career. 

 

25. The beginning of an era at Ferrari (2025) 

At the age of 40, Hamilton has embarked on a bold new chapter, signing a contract with Scuderia Ferrari as he chases an elusive eighth world title. At Ferrari, Hamilton is expected to earn a salary of around £60 million a year. With the iconic red car beneath him, he has entered a new era, ready to take on new challenges and cement his legacy as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history.  

 

What is next for Hamilton? Don’t just watch from the sidelines, experience the adrenaline live! Get your official tickets now and be there when Hamilton takes to the grid in Ferrari red. The next chapter of his legendary career is about to unfold and you can be there live !