Opinions aside for a second, Lewis Hamilton is the greatest Formula 1 driver of all-time, at least according to the official statistics.
With the exception of sharing the seven-time World Champion accolade with Michael Schumacher, no driver has come close to the number of wins, podiums, nor pole positions that the 38-year-old has achieved.
Since making his F1 debut at McLaren in 2007 as a 22-year-old, he’s gone on to win a record shattering 103 races, feature on the podium 196 times and start from the best position on the grid (pole) on 104 occasions.
Up until 2022, the statistical GOAT had won a race in every F1 campaign he’d entered.
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Whilst his F1 career didn’t officially start until he raced for McLaren in 2007, Hamilton became the youngest driver to join an F1 driver programme (McLaren’s) in 1998, when he was just 13.
He had a glittering junior career, with his success having carried over into his F1 career.
With all the success he’s had, it should come as no shock that he is one of the highest-paid drivers on the grid.
On his current contract, only three-time World Champion Max Verstappen earns more than him, with Hamilton’s current deal which expires at the end of 2023 being worth a reported £29 million per season, according to RacingNews365.com.
However, his new contract with Mercedes for 2024 and 2025 which will keep him in the sport until he’s at least 40 years old, is worth a reported £50 million per season, according to The Telegraph.
It’s not just in F1 where he earns money though, with the driver being sponsored by the likes of Monster Energy, Puma, Tommy Hilfiger, Bose and so many more.
He’s often seen at fashion events across the globe, with him having actually made his mark on the fashion scene with his +44 fashion brand, whilst he’s also collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger.
It’s not just the fashion world that Hamilton has explored, as he’s also the founder of charitable foundation Mission 44.
Hamilton works tirelessly to create more opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds, with him wanting everyone to have a chance to live their dreams, regardless of where they are from.
With all the good that he’s done off the track, plus his immense records on it, it shouldn’t be a surprise that his net worth as of 2022 sat at $285 million, according to Forbes.
When his endorsements and F1 salary are combined, Hamilton comes out at being the 21st highest-paid athlete in the world based on his current Mercedes contract, with Forbes reporting that he earns $65 million annually.
Whilst born in Stevenage on 7 January 1985, the Mercedes driver resides in Monte-Carlo, as does the vast majority of the F1 grid these days.
Despite this, he spends the majority of his time away from F1 travelling across the globe, with the United States being somewhat of a home away from home for him.
This is evident when he races across the pond, as he tends to receive a tremendous reception from the American fans.
Hamilton received the biggest cheer of the day on Friday at the United States Grand Prix, where he qualified in third for Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas, a track he’s been victorious at five times.
In fact, he’s claimed at least a rostrum every time he’s competed at COTA, with the only exception being 2013.
As for his love life, Hamilton spent the early years of his F1 career in a relationship with pop star Nicole Scherzinger, the duo reportedly dated for seven years.
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Most recently, he’s been linked to Colombian singer Shakira, whom he was spotted with at various races this season as well as away from the track.
However, it’s believed that they’re only friends.
As for starting his own family, Hamilton revealed recently that it’s not currently something on his mind due to not having the time, with his priority being to win an unprecedented eighth Drivers’ Championship.