LEWIS HAMILTON

With seven Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship titles to his name, the British racing star is currently competing for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team. The 38-year-old took home his first championship win in his second year of racing in the top flight in 2008. Now, Hamilton holds a joint record of wins with Michael Schumacher. Hamilton missed out on a recordbreaking eighth win after a nail-biting and controversial conclusion to the 2021 F1 season in Abu Dhabi, when Max Verstappen took home the title for the first time. Off the track, Hamilton revved up the fashion industry through collaborations with brands like Tommy Hilfiger. He's also earned an impressive number of other accolades too, including being made MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2009 by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Hamilton was later included in the Queen’s New Year Honours List and received knighthood from King Charles III (then the Prince of Wales) at Windsor Castle in 2021, thanks to his contributions to the racing industry.

As the first Black driver in Formula 1, the pro founded the Hamilton Commission in 2020 alongside The Royal Academy of Engineering to improve representation of the Black community in U.K. motorsports beyond the driver pool. Hamilton is fighting for more diversity for those working in the garage, as well as engineers in the factories. After accumulating data and research, the commission published its official report on the matter in 2021. “I am proud to have published The Hamilton Commission report, Accelerating Change: Improving Representation of Black People in UK Motorsport, alongside The Royal Academy of Engineering,” Hamilton said in a statement.

“Through this report, I feel that we have a clearer understanding of what is preventing the motorsport industry from being truly representative. I am committed to turning these recommendations into action and making real, lasting change for the better.”

He’s spreading his love of racing to a wider audience with two new projects. Hamilton’s production company Dawn Apollo Films and Apple Original Films are working on a movie directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski and starring none other than Brad Pitt as a former driver who returns to the sport.

"I have such high hopes for it," Hamilton said in October. “I know we're going to make the best racing movie that's ever existed, both visually, and we're going to work on making sure we pull on the heartstrings of all those fans."

Hamilton also has a documentary in the works with Apple TV+ that will highlight his cultural significance in the sport. It’s been reported there will be “full access to Hamilton and his team, on and off the track,” as well as a star-studded cast of guest interviews.