Lewis Hamilton: 12 highlights from his 12 years at Mercedes

Get the Collector's Edition Lewis Hamilton, the starry years” on our online store:
– In paper version  HERE.
– In digital version  HERE.

On February 1, 2024, the announcement of Lewis Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari since the 2025 season has shaken the world of F1. An unexpected transfer for the seven-time world champion after 6 world titles, 245 races, 84 victories and 12 seasons of intense collaboration alongside Mercedes.

2013: A first podium in Malaysia

Lewis Hamilton's first podium at Mercedes at the Malaysian GP in 2013 © ERIC VARGIOLU / DPPI

After a 5th place in the first Grand Prix of the season at the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton climbed onto the podium for the first time with his new team at the Malaysian Grand Prix. A 3rd position achieved thanks to a team order asking Nico Rosberg not to attack the Briton at the end of the race. An event marked by the strange error of the Stevenage native who took the wrong pit during his stop and ended up on the spaces reserved for his former team, McLaren.

2014: Rivalry and 2nd world title

2014, rivalry exacerbated between Hamilton and Rosberg © FRANCOIS FLAMAND / DPPI

In 2014, the beginning of the incandescent rivalry between Hamilton and Rosberg. With a W05 and its high-performance V6 hybrid engine, the two friends fight for first place and almost make the team implode. A difficult situation to manage for the team according to the confidences of Toto wolff on the occasion ofan exclusive interview with AUTOhebdoThe conflict is growing to such an extent that James Vowles decides to set up "rules of engagement" in order to control the ardor of teammates with fratricidal tendencies. The season ends with Lewis Hamilton winning the Drivers' Championship: the first title for a Mercedes driver since Juan Manuel Fangio in 1955.

2015: Triple world champion

3rd victory for Hamilton at the 2015 United States GP © ERIC VARGIOLU / DPPI

The team with the silver arrows still has the best car on the grid at the start of the 2015 season. Tensions appear to have eased between teammates. Sir Lewis dominated the Drivers' Championship from the first Grand Prix of this season. Despite a few mistakes that benefited Sebastian Vettel, his main rival at Ferrari, the Briton wins his third World Championship. Two years in a row with the German team.

2016: Hamilton vs Rosberg rivalry at the top

The enemy brothers are at it again. The clashes between the two Mercedes drivers cost the team dearly, which ended up making them sign an agreement that stipulated that in the event of an accident between the two, the drivers had to pay for the damages, as Nico Rosberg recalled during the podcast Business of SportsThat year, Nico Rosberg won the world championship title with a 5-point lead over Lewis Hamilton.

2017: Hamilton vs. Vettel, who will equal Alain Prost?

Vettel and Hamilton neck and neck © FRANCOIS FLAMAND / DPPI

The arrival of Valtteri Bottas in the German team brings a new era more conducive to team strategies. The Ferrari is as efficient as the Mercedes: Vettel and Hamilton are fighting for the championship that will allow one or the other to equal the 4 titles ofAlain ProstA fierce battle with clashes, notably in Baku (Azerbaijan), between the two main protagonists of this season which ended with an uncontested victory for the English driver with a 66-point lead over his only rival from 2017, during the United States Grand Prix.

2018: A historic 5th title tied with Fangio

Hamilton wins his 5th World Championship ahead of Vettel at the Mexican GP in 2018 © FLORENT GOODEN / DPPI Media

New season, new fierce battle between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel for the precious Drivers' Championship title. The year is punctuated by intense duels and sometimes impressive clashes. During the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Vettel spins after contact with his opponent's Mercedes. A costly error on the part of the German that underlines the ambient tension between the two men in the race for points. Sir Lewis Hamilton is relentless and finds himself crowned a 6th time at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix.

2019: A clinical year

Celebrating Sir Lewis' 6th title with Valtteri Bottas and the Mercedes team at the 2019 Austin GP © ANTONIN VINCENT / DPPI

Lewis Hamilton walks on water. Faced with the rise of Ferrari and a young Charles Leclerc hungry, the Briton imposes an exceptional regularity: out of the 21 races contested, he climbs on the podium 17 times including 11 on the highest step. In Monaco, he gives the impression of whispering in the ear of his tires at the end of their life when he manages to stand up to Max Verstappen who is hot on his heels. With a master's hand, his consistency gives him his 6th title in Texas. Hamilton is then only one title away from equaling Michael Schumacher.

2020: Hamilton and Schumacher, two legends tied

Seven-time world champion at the Turkish GP in 2020 © ANTONIN VINCENT / DPPI

Despite a season disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Hamilton has definitively etched his name in letters of fire in the history of Formula 1. 11 victories out of 17 races aboard an all-powerful W11. Grand Prix weekend in Istanbul: on a soggy track, the driver with "Hammer Time" wins his seventh Drivers' Championship after a comeback from 6th place. A record previously held by former Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher.

2021: Hopes of an 8th title dashed

Max Verstappen's victory at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP leaves a bitter taste for Hamilton© FLORENT GOODEN / DPPI Media

In 2021, Hamilton and Verstappen turn every weekend into a heated confrontation, symbolizing a high-flying rivalry. There is no shortage of spectacular accidents: a 51G crash for the Dutchman after contact with the seven-time world champion at Silverstone, a spectacular collision at Monza (Lewis Hamilton can thank the halo) or an incredible comeback by the Englishman at the Brazilian Grand Prix (24 overtaking attempts over the entire weekend between the Sprint and the Sunday race). The season is not short of twists and turns and everything is played out in Abu Dhabi in a high-tension finale. Michael Masi's controversial decision under Safety Car gives victory to Max Verstappen on the last lap. Hamilton loses the eighth title he was hoping for in a controversial outcome that tastes like tragedy.

2022: The failed bet of the W13

The W13 is a failure © ANTONIN VINCENT / DPPI

Mercedes' descent into hell in 2022. The Briton has suffered a series of disappointments at the wheel of a W13 that fell far short of expectations. An innovative and risky concept: it was a failure for the team with the silver arrows. The team had to fight against porpoising (a phenomenon of violent oscillations up and down on the car) throughout the season. For the first time in his career, Hamilton was deprived of pole position and victory. Toto Wolff even goes so far as to apologize with his most successful driver at the end of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola. The opportunity for Her Majesty's representative to show his involvement in the car improvement process and his role in motivating the team.

2023: Emotional Pole in Hungary

A welcome pole position at the Hungarian GP in 2023 © DPPI

The Mercedes is still well behind the Red Bull explosive during the 2023 season. Hamilton shows that he has lost none of his brilliance by taking pole at the Hungarian Grand Prix: his only one of the year. A strong moment in a context where Lewis Hamilton pushes his driving and his machine ever further. Despite remarkable consistency and a presence on the podiums, frustration seems to be at its peak.

2024: Farewell to Mercedes turned towards Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc: future Ferrari teammates © Joao Filipe / DPPI

For his final season at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton is adopting a symbolic position. After the early announcement of his upcoming adventure with The Prancing Horse Stable, the almost forty-year-old remains focused on the track as in his role as mentor. He supports Doriane Pin, who wears the colours of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Junior Team in F1 Academy, but also offers valuable advice to future rookies on the 2025 grid such as Oliver Bearman or Andrea Kimi Antonelli. A passing of the torch before opening what will probably be the last chapter of his career in Formula 1.

ALSO READ > Decryption: Has Lewis Hamilton really lost his mojo in Formula 1?