With seven world titles and over 100 race wins, Lewis Hamilton is a sporting legend. He is F1 royalty. Over the years in the sport, the Briton has also proudly flaunted his background and heritage. Naturally, this has drawn public interest in his roots. So, what is Lewis Hamilton’s ethnicity and nationality?
Lewis Hamilton’s nationality
It is pretty well known that Lewis Hamilton is British. The F1 star was born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. This of course makes him British by nationality. Hamilton has also always raced under a British racing license.
When Hamilton won the 2024 British Grand Prix, after almost three years without a win, he showcased his pride in his nationality in an iconic moment. The 7x world champ got the Union Jack from a steward and waved it during the in-lap.
There are not many F1 fans who do not know Lewis Hamilton’s nationality. But what about his ethnicity?
Lewis Hamilton’s ethnicity
Lewis Hamilton is of mixed-race ethnicity. He is part of a culturally rich family. His father, Anthony, is Black and of Grenadian descent. Whereas his mother, Carmen, is White British. This means that Hamilton is of both Black Caribbean and White British heritage.
Hamilton shared his struggles growing up as a man of color in the UK. He spoke about experiencing racism in almost all walks of life while growing up.
“I’ve been subjected to racism my whole life. There’s a lot of racial bias still in the world today, and it’s part of my story,” Hamilton told GQ back in 2020.
But this did not force Hamilton back into a shell. As his influence has grown over the years, the F1 star has used his voice to advocate for change.
He has spoken out about equality, diversity, and inclusion in the F1 world. In 2020, he launched the Hamilton Commission to address the lack of Black representation in motorsport. He also played a key role in pushing F1 to adopt more anti-racism campaigns, such as the “End Racism” messaging and the “We Race As One” initiative.
Most recently, Hamilton met UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. During his visit to 10 Downing Street, the UK government committed to working with Hamilton’s Mission 44 to help make the country’s education system more diverse.
Hamilton has also paid homage to his African roots on many occasions previously. He did so in unconventional but effective ways. In 2023, he rocked up to the Miami GP in a Dior outfit inspired by West African craftsmanship and patterns.
In July 2025, Hamilton is also set to launch a collection in partnership with Dior, which will be inspired by his travels to Africa. The collection is set to explore the theme of ‘Afrofuturism’.
