Lewis Hamilton – An all-time great in Formula One, but also so much more

Lewis Hamilton’s seventh world driver’s championship title in 2020 meant he went level with Michael Schumacher for the record of the most driver’s championships. Few would argue against his merits as a driver, and even fewer would argue about whether or not he deserved it. Since the introduction of the turbo-hybrid engines in the sport, Mercedes and Hamilton have been dominant and although they had to beat off a spirited Ferrari challenge in 2017 and 2018, they have remained the undisputed kings of the modern era. But as debate rages on as to whether Hamilton can be considered the GOAT ahead of Schumacher, it’s worth looking at whether or not it even matters given how much Hamilton has done that goes beyond just sport.

Breaking Barriers

Hamilton’s debut in 2007 made him the first – and so far only – driver of African descent to have been a part of the sport.

It’s amazing at first thought but Formula One is a notoriously elitist sport and even the best of drivers can fail to make the cut without the proper financial backing.

Hamilton’s race dream was supported by his father who left his position as an IT manager and became a contractor – sometimes working up to four jobs at a time while still attending his son’s races.

He had gifted Lewis a go-kart aged six and promised to support him as long as he worked hard in school.

Eventually Hamilton made the grade to F1 in 2007, incidentally fulfilling a prediction that he made for himself when he was younger.

In 1993 he approached McLaren boss Ron Dennis at the Autosport Awards and told him that he would one day race in his car. Dennis, while giving the youngster and autograph, said to phone him in nine years and they would sort something out.

Controversy and Philanthropy

Hamilton’s seven world titles have not come and gone with minimal fuss; indeed, there seemed a time that off-track controversy would drag his career down.

His competitive nature led to plenty of spats with experienced McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso – who was, it must be remembered, a double world champion at that point. Eventually Alonso would leave McLaren after just one season.

His biggest rivalry came up against Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, when the two vied for the driver’s championship from 2014-16. Hamilton won in 2014 and 2015 before Rosberg won the title in 2016 and then promptly retired, but their rivalry is regarded as one of the most bitter in the modern era.

But perhaps Hamilton’s biggest adversity has been off the track. Aside from having to deal with racial undertones all through his career – whether from the media or fans – he has also pushed hard to improve diversity within F1 itself.

He is vocal and outspoken against social injustices; he took the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 ahead of every race and even wore t-shirts campaigning for justice for Breonna Taylor, an African-American women killed inside her house by police officers.

He has also been involved in plenty of charity work and has keenly supported causes that look to reduce animal abuse. His vegan lifestyle is well known and he even launched a plant-based restaurant chain named Neat Burger.

All this and so much more means Lewis Hamilton will be remembered as so much more than a great F1 driver – despite having GOAT credentials.