How many F1 championships does Lewis Hamilton have?

Sir Lewis Hamilton is widely recognized as one of the finest Formula One, the pinnacle of motorsport drivers in history. He has been the most dominant driver in the 2010s. The Mercedes AMG F1 driver is the most successful driver statistically, and he shares the record for most championship titles with Michael Schumacher, with seven.

Let’s dive into each of his championships and their defining moments. Lewis has always had challenging competition and teammates. When he debuted in 2007 with McLaren, he was teamed with the reigning two-time world champion, Fernando Alonso.  The two had a rough relationship and proceeded to have a heated title brawl that season.

He became a Formula 1 race winner in only the sixth race of his career, the Canadian GP. He shocked the world and established himself as a force to be reckoned with. He had one of the greatest rookie campaigns in the sport’s history after Jacques Villeneuve in the 90s. He went toe to toe with Fernando Alonso, who had previously defeated Michael Schumacher twice for the title.

2007 saw a three-way title fight between the Mclarens and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen won the race with a one-point edge over the other Mclaren driver. The pair split in 2008, the following year when Lewis won his first title, becoming the first black driver to win the F1 World Championship. 

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2008: Lewis Hamilton’s first F1 World Title 

The 2008 F1 championship season saw a fierce battle between Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton that went down to the wire in the final race. The season had been exciting, and the final race was no different. The race was held at the Interlagos circuit, the home turf of Massa. As the race progressed, rain began to fall, and all the drivers switched to intermediate tires, except for Timo Glock’s Toyota in fourth place.

Hamilton needed to finish fifth or higher to win the championship, and his hopes were fading as Massa led comfortably. Sebastian Vettel’s impressive overtake of Hamilton for fifth place gave more hope to Massa. However, Glock, still on slick tires, began to lose grip and had to move out of the racing line, allowing Hamilton to overtake and secure the fifth position he needed in the wet race.

The Ferrari team, who had won the constructors’ championship, were ecstatic as Massa crossed the finish line in the first place, winning his sixth race of the season and believing he had won the drivers’ championship. But in a matter of seconds, Hamilton passed Glock for fifth place, and the Ferrari team was brought to tears as they realized they had lost the championship. Hamilton, who had won five races that season, was the better driver and had secured his first-ever championship title. At a young age, Hamilton marked his name among the greatest British drivers, Jim Clark, and Damon Hill.

2009 to 2012: Struggle for podium finishes 

The new champion continued with the squad for a few years longer, until 2012. He was a title candidate in 2010 and 2012, but Redbull and Sebastian Vettel took the titles in both years. He had won at least one race in each of the previous years and had several podium finishes. Lewis cemented his position as one of the top drivers on the field.

2013: The race for redemption, a surprising move to Mercedes

Following Michael Schumacher’s retirement, Lewis joined Mercedes for the 2013 season and was teamed with his boyhood buddy, Nico Rosberg. Nico and Lewis had a good friendship at the beginning. Lewis only won one race in 2013: in Hungary. Then came the 2014 season, which marked the beginning of the new regulation cars and the turbo-hybrid era. This was the season in which Lewis won his second championship, and Mercedes won their first constructors’ title.

2014: Lewis Hamilton’s second F1 World Title 

Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Mercedes in 2013 was met with skepticism, but it turned out to be a savvy move. The 2014 season was a standout year for Hamilton, who dominated the field with 11 victories, securing his second world championship. Mercedes’ dominance was clear, as they were miles ahead of their competitors, including the reigning champions, Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel, who had no countermeasures against the silver arrows on race weekends, This season marked the beginning of a rivalry between Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate, which ignited what became known as the “Silver War.”

Hamilton’s impressive record of 11 race victories in 19 races was unmatched by his teammate, who managed only five wins. The championship lead changed hands frequently throughout the season until the Singapore Grand Prix, where Hamilton secured the lead permanently and went on to win the championship with a commanding 67-point lead.

2015: Lewis Hamilton equals Ayrton Senna’s Championship record 

In 2015, Lewis Hamilton clinched his third world championship, emulating his childhood hero, Ayrton Senna. Hamilton’s sheer dominance marked the season as he led the championship almost throughout the year. He kicked off the season with a win at the Australian Grand Prix. He continued to add to his tally with another nine victories, including a stunning triumph on home soil at the iconic Silverstone circuit.

The defining moment of the season, he arrived at the United States Grand Prix, where Hamilton emerged victorious despite only 12 cars finishing the race. With a comfortable 67-point lead in the championship, Hamilton could have easily secured his title regardless of the result. However, he went on to overtake Rosberg in the final stages to claim the win, securing his third championship in the process.

2016: Lewis Hamilton vs. Nico Rosberg

The 2016 championship proved to be a fierce and closely contested battle, with the title fight going down to the very last race of the season. Nico Rosberg, who had previously lost out to Hamilton in the previous three years, was determined to clinch his first and only championship title. He gained momentum at the Malaysian Grand Prix, where Hamilton suffered an engine blow-up, allowing Rosberg to win the race and earn 25 crucial points over Hamilton.

In the final race of the season, Hamilton had to win and hope that his teammate finished lower than a third place for him to clinch the championship. Hamilton won the race, but Rosberg ultimately emerged victorious, securing the championship title by a mere five points. The 2016 season marked the end of Nico Rosberg’s F1 career, having achieved 23 race wins, 57 podium finishes, and a world championship title.

2017: Lewis Hamilton vs. Sebastian Vettel 

Hamilton felt a sense of disappointment, having lost to his teammate in the previous season. Mercedes recruited Valtteri Bottas as Hamilton’s teammate following Rosberg’s retirement. Still, this time the battle was not within the team but with the four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, racing for the Scuderia Ferrari team. Vettel asserted his dominance at the start of the season by winning the opening race and went on to win five of the 11 races in the first half, tying up with the defending champion.

Hamilton showed a masterclass comeback in the second half, winning six of the remaining eight races, while Vettel managed only one. The championship completely turned around in the Singapore Grand Prix, where both Ferraris crashed out along with Max Verstappen. Hamilton won the race and the championship by a comfortable margin of 46 points, with nine wins and 11 pole positions under his belt.

2018: Lewis Hamilton vs Sebastian Vettel (II)

In 2018, the Formula 1 season witnessed an intense battle between two four-time champions on the grid. Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton were the primary contenders for the championship title, with Vettel putting up a remarkable fight throughout the season. The German driver kicked off the season by winning the opener in a dominant fashion and held the championship lead until his home race at Hockenheim.

The Hockenheim race, regarded as one of the best in history, proved to be a defining moment for the championship. Hamilton faced a setback in qualifying, starting 14th on the grid due to a gearbox issue, while Vettel smashed the track record and began the race from the pole position. The rain made the race unpredictable, and teams and drivers had to decide between intermediate or slick tires. Vettel led the race with ease on slicks until he crashed out of the race, paving the way for Hamilton’s victory. The British driver’s outstanding wet-weather ability and masterful driving saw him climb up the field and clinch the race, securing his lead in the championship and eventually claiming the title. 2018 was regarded as his best season by many experts and fans.

2019: Lewis Hamiltons wins 6th F1 World Title

The 2019 Formula 1 season witnessed Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable feat of surpassing Juan Manuel Fangio‘s record of five championships by securing his sixth title. The season saw Hamilton dominate with eleven wins out of twenty-one races, with his closest rival, Valtteri Bottas, managing only four wins. Bottas, like Vettel in previous seasons, won the season opener and held the championship lead for four races, but Hamilton’s victory at Spain’s round five defined the season.

Hamilton’s track mastery was evident with his five pole positions this season. However, the award for the most poles went to Ferrari’s young driver Charles Leclerc, who secured seven poles during the season.

2020: Lewis Hamilton’s equals Michael Schumacher’s record 

The 2020 Formula 1 season was a brief one, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season opener in Australia was canceled due to the virus, and lockdowns worldwide brought racing to a standstill. However, the FIA’s continued efforts resulted in the season resuming in July at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

Mercedes dominated the season like never before, winning an impressive 13 out of the 17 races. Lewis Hamilton, in particular, had an exceptional season, breaking Michael Schumacher‘s record of 92 total race wins. Hamilton won 11 races and secured his seventh championship at the Turkish Grand Prix. He once again demonstrated his superior driving skills, showcasing his wet-weather prowess and exceptional tire management during the race. Lewis’ closest rival was his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, who managed only 2 wins in the entire season, Lewis had a healthy lead of 124 points over his Finnish tea mate.

Hamilton’s seventh championship title marked a historic moment in Formula 1 and the Motorsport world. He equaled Schumacher’s record for the most championships won. This remarkable feat solidified Hamilton’s position as the most successful driver in the sport. In recognition of his exceptional talent and achievements, Hamilton was knighted by British royalty.

2021: Max Verstappen ends Lewis Hamilton’s dominance 

Lewis entered the 2021 season looking for a record-breaking eighth title but was met with stiff competition from Red Bull and Max Verstappen. The championship came down to the wire. In the season finale, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix hosted the title decider, with both drivers on equal points. This race followed a huge controversy, involving a safety car restart and Nicolas Lattifi’s crash, giving the championship to Max Verstappen.

It was deemed a human error on FIA’s part, and Max held onto his title. This time, Max was the superior driver, dominating most of the season, winning 10 of 21 races to Hamilton’s 8. Hamilton made a mammoth comeback in the second half, and the race at Interlagos will go down in history as one of the most extraordinary efforts by any driver after serving a grid penalty. He also marked his 100th pole position start that season. 

2022-23: The failed years

Hamilton is still with Mercedes, but they are behind their competitors. Throughout his career, 2022 was the first year in which Hamilton did not win at least one race. His teammate George Russell scored Mercedes’s only win of 2022. Team Principal Toto wolf and co failed to give him a car-worthy of a race win. Hamilton is one of the sport’s finest drivers, and it remains to be seen how the silver arrows and the knight will do in the 2023 season; regardless of the outcome, Hamilton will be vying for a record-breaking eighth title until he retires. He is now 37 years old, the second oldest driver on the grid, and has no plans to retire soon.

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