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Sir Lewis: The Definitive Biography
The definitive biography of the greatest Formula One driver of all time.
At the pinnacle of motorsports, a humble young man from Stevenage, has risen to become the greatest Formula One driver of all time. Lewis Hamilton’s journey from remote-controlled car hobbyist to seven-time world champion, knight of the realm, and global superstar is the stuff of sporting legend.
Sir Lewis follows Hamilton’s path from his early days karting on local tracks to the glitz and pressure of the Formula One circuit. Along the way, we witness Hamilton’s single-minded determination to reach the top, even as he challenged racial barriers and opposition at every turn. His triumph over adversity is all the more inspiring given Hamilton’s pioneering role in making motorsports accessible to marginalized communities.
Beyond his unparalleled on-track exploits — equaling the records held by the legendary Michael Schumacher — Hamilton has used his platform to advocate for social justice, environmental sustainability, and diversity. He has become a worldwide tastemaker of art, fashion, and lifestyle, while also emerging as a voice of moral clarity. Hamilton has leveraged his fame to push Formula One and global sports to be a force for positive influence while inspiring a new generation of athletes and artists to pursue their dreams.
As Hamilton nears the twilight of his racing career, this fascinating book by acclaimed professor of African American Literature and Culture, and lifelong F1 fan, Michael Sawyer, examines his lasting legacy. Sir Lewis culminates with Hamilton’s potential final act — chasing a record-setting 8th world title at the wheel of the iconic Ferrari team, the ultimate validation of his greatness.
At the pinnacle of motorsports, a humble young man from Stevenage, has risen to become the greatest Formula One driver of all time. Lewis Hamilton’s journey from remote-controlled car hobbyist to seven-time world champion, knight of the realm, and global superstar is the stuff of sporting legend.
Sir Lewis follows Hamilton’s path from his early days karting on local tracks to the glitz and pressure of the Formula One circuit. Along the way, we witness Hamilton’s single-minded determination to reach the top, even as he challenged racial barriers and opposition at every turn. His triumph over adversity is all the more inspiring given Hamilton’s pioneering role in making motorsports accessible to marginalized communities.
Beyond his unparalleled on-track exploits — equaling the records held by the legendary Michael Schumacher — Hamilton has used his platform to advocate for social justice, environmental sustainability, and diversity. He has become a worldwide tastemaker of art, fashion, and lifestyle, while also emerging as a voice of moral clarity. Hamilton has leveraged his fame to push Formula One and global sports to be a force for positive influence while inspiring a new generation of athletes and artists to pursue their dreams.
As Hamilton nears the twilight of his racing career, this fascinating book by acclaimed professor of African American Literature and Culture, and lifelong F1 fan, Michael Sawyer, examines his lasting legacy. Sir Lewis culminates with Hamilton’s potential final act — chasing a record-setting 8th world title at the wheel of the iconic Ferrari team, the ultimate validation of his greatness.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
March 17, 2025
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bon, qu'on s'le dise j’ai avant tout acheté ce livre pour l’objet en lui même qui fera une très belle décoration mdr
en tant que grande fan de Lewis, sans grande surprise, ce livre ne m’a pas appris grand chose sur lui.
le récit n’est pas d’une grande utilité, Lewis n’a même pas été interviewé, l’auteur retrace seulement des bribes de son histoire que l’on connait déjà, j’ai trouvé la chronologie brouillon, de plus certains passages ne parlent même pas de lui (un chapitre entier sur l’explication du déroulement des qualif ou encore des passages sur d’autres athlètes noirs) et deux des huit photos choisies ne sont pas des plus pertinentes mais bon...
ce livre met tout de même en avant les difficultés que Lewis a dû surmonter pour être le premier pilote noir dans un sport très blanc et met en lumière son éducation et la façon dont il a dû briser les barrières d'un sport dont la résistance à la diversité est profondément ancrée.
je le recommanderais à la rigueur pour quelqu’un qui ne connait ni le sport, ni Lewis (et encore, autant directement lire son autobiographie du coup…)
bon, qu'on s'le dise j’ai avant tout acheté ce livre pour l’objet en lui même qui fera une très belle décoration mdr
en tant que grande fan de Lewis, sans grande surprise, ce livre ne m’a pas appris grand chose sur lui.
le récit n’est pas d’une grande utilité, Lewis n’a même pas été interviewé, l’auteur retrace seulement des bribes de son histoire que l’on connait déjà, j’ai trouvé la chronologie brouillon, de plus certains passages ne parlent même pas de lui (un chapitre entier sur l’explication du déroulement des qualif ou encore des passages sur d’autres athlètes noirs) et deux des huit photos choisies ne sont pas des plus pertinentes mais bon...
ce livre met tout de même en avant les difficultés que Lewis a dû surmonter pour être le premier pilote noir dans un sport très blanc et met en lumière son éducation et la façon dont il a dû briser les barrières d'un sport dont la résistance à la diversité est profondément ancrée.
je le recommanderais à la rigueur pour quelqu’un qui ne connait ni le sport, ni Lewis (et encore, autant directement lire son autobiographie du coup…)
January 20, 2025
Oh, where do I even begin?
Let’s just say I was thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of Sir Lewis!
I’ve been a fan of Lewis since before Drive to Survive made him a household name. But once that show dropped, my admiration only grew. The man is not just an icon on the track—he’s an icon, period. His relentless drive to be the best, both as an athlete and as a human, doesn’t go unnoticed. Lewis Hamilton is a living legend, one of the greatest athletes of our time, and without a doubt, the best in his sport.
"I’m not trying to be the best black driver, I’m trying to be the best driver, period."
So, naturally, I wasn’t surprised when someone decided to write a book about him. But what did throw me off was discovering that Lewis wasn’t actually interviewed for this one. And honestly? I think that’s where the book fell a bit flat. As a die-hard fan, I didn’t feel like I was getting anything new. Without his personal input, it felt like a retelling of stories I already knew inside and out.
On the plus side, the book does take us on a deep dive into Lewis’ upbringing. Hearing how he rose from such humble beginnings to break barriers in the sport is always inspiring, and I loved that Sawyer gave us a peek into his life off the track too. It was a reminder of what a true trailblazer Lewis is, both in and out of the racing world.
But at the end of the day, Sir Lewis was a bit like rehearing the same stories you’ve heard many times before. It’s enjoyable—but I just wanted something a little more, something a bit more fresh.
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
Let’s just say I was thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of Sir Lewis!
I’ve been a fan of Lewis since before Drive to Survive made him a household name. But once that show dropped, my admiration only grew. The man is not just an icon on the track—he’s an icon, period. His relentless drive to be the best, both as an athlete and as a human, doesn’t go unnoticed. Lewis Hamilton is a living legend, one of the greatest athletes of our time, and without a doubt, the best in his sport.
"I’m not trying to be the best black driver, I’m trying to be the best driver, period."
So, naturally, I wasn’t surprised when someone decided to write a book about him. But what did throw me off was discovering that Lewis wasn’t actually interviewed for this one. And honestly? I think that’s where the book fell a bit flat. As a die-hard fan, I didn’t feel like I was getting anything new. Without his personal input, it felt like a retelling of stories I already knew inside and out.
On the plus side, the book does take us on a deep dive into Lewis’ upbringing. Hearing how he rose from such humble beginnings to break barriers in the sport is always inspiring, and I loved that Sawyer gave us a peek into his life off the track too. It was a reminder of what a true trailblazer Lewis is, both in and out of the racing world.
But at the end of the day, Sir Lewis was a bit like rehearing the same stories you’ve heard many times before. It’s enjoyable—but I just wanted something a little more, something a bit more fresh.
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
Want to read
December 9, 2024GIVE IT TO MEEEEE
October 13, 2025
interesting read
January 18, 2025
*received an advanced copy via NetGalley* As a F1 fan that came to the sport following watching the Netflix series “Drive to Survive”, I was excited to see a new biography about the prolific world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton on the list to be published. As I dove into the read, I did remember several of the historical points of Lewis’ career from either the Netflix series or watching most F1 races live since 2020. However, I feel like I did not come away from the read satisfied that new material had been presented, nor was Lewis interviewed specifically for this work to bring any new insights to the events discussed. I think had this author waited for Lewis’ career to complete, this may have been a more complete work to document a truly inspirational athlete.
2025
October 3, 2025Memoir March TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Legacy Lit
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Legacy Lit
February 27, 2025
2 stars
I really thought (when I decided to pick this one up), that this was an autobiography but turns out that although the research for this book was done amazingly, it didn't add to anything new that we -Sir Lewis fans- already know about him.
This is more for people who are curious and have no prior knowledge.
Still, it was nicely written.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really thought (when I decided to pick this one up), that this was an autobiography but turns out that although the research for this book was done amazingly, it didn't add to anything new that we -Sir Lewis fans- already know about him.
This is more for people who are curious and have no prior knowledge.
Still, it was nicely written.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2025
Lewis Hamilton has won seven F1 driving titles and yet, some don’t consider that to be his greatest accomplishment. Being the only Black driver on the F1 circuit, he had to overcome many barriers and challenges that many minority people face whenever they are striving to succeed, in sports or otherwise. He has done gracefully, with great success and has become a strong activist for equality. How he came to this point, in both his racing and his activism, is portrayed in this excellent book by Micheal Sawyer.
If there is any downfall to this book, it would be that for readers who follow F1 or Hamilton closely, there won’t be much new material in the book. As one who would be best considered a casual fan of F1 and only knew about Hamilton’s success with his championships, I found the book to be full of new information that I did not know about him and came away with even more respect for the man than I did before I picked up the book. The many post-race interview transcripts helped formulate this impression, but I can understand where this may be redundant for those who follow Lewis closely.
Because the book deals mostly with Hamilton’s racing and his activism, I did find it to not quite be a “biography” as it is marketed, despite covering most of Hamilton’s life. It is clear how not only the book will read, but also how Hamilton’s life will be shaped when Sawyer writes about the sacrifices and hardships his father makes so that Lewis can race, starting in go-karts and extending until the McLaren team decided to take a chance on the young but talented driver. Even in the go-kart level, it takes a lot of money to dedicate the proper resources to the sport, something the Hamilton family did not always have. Add in the elitism and the racism endured by the family and it makes Lewis’ accomplishments even more astounding.
There is also a great deal of racing material in the book, especially when Lewis’ rivals such as Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. The latter was his teammate when Lewis was with McLaren racing and the tension between them is covered quite well. The same can be said for the rivalry between Hamilton and Verstappen and what is most impressive is the class and humility for which Hamilton handles himself when faced with questions about his rivals. This is true even in the case of the controversial finish of the 2021 F1 season when some questionable ruling on the final lap gave Verstappen the title over Hamilton.
Lastly, the sections that describes Hamilton’s activism, his quotes about events such as the police shooting of Breanna Taylor and his calm demeanor that makes his statements even more powerful. He handles this topic as skillfully and masterfully as he does a race car. In the same manner, Sawyer handles this topic well. While his text when interjecting his own thoughts with Hamilton’s can come across as much stronger, it is written even-handedly and fairly. For all of these reasons, this reader who wanted to learn more about Hamilton believes this is an excellent book for that endeavor.
I wish to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
If there is any downfall to this book, it would be that for readers who follow F1 or Hamilton closely, there won’t be much new material in the book. As one who would be best considered a casual fan of F1 and only knew about Hamilton’s success with his championships, I found the book to be full of new information that I did not know about him and came away with even more respect for the man than I did before I picked up the book. The many post-race interview transcripts helped formulate this impression, but I can understand where this may be redundant for those who follow Lewis closely.
Because the book deals mostly with Hamilton’s racing and his activism, I did find it to not quite be a “biography” as it is marketed, despite covering most of Hamilton’s life. It is clear how not only the book will read, but also how Hamilton’s life will be shaped when Sawyer writes about the sacrifices and hardships his father makes so that Lewis can race, starting in go-karts and extending until the McLaren team decided to take a chance on the young but talented driver. Even in the go-kart level, it takes a lot of money to dedicate the proper resources to the sport, something the Hamilton family did not always have. Add in the elitism and the racism endured by the family and it makes Lewis’ accomplishments even more astounding.
There is also a great deal of racing material in the book, especially when Lewis’ rivals such as Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. The latter was his teammate when Lewis was with McLaren racing and the tension between them is covered quite well. The same can be said for the rivalry between Hamilton and Verstappen and what is most impressive is the class and humility for which Hamilton handles himself when faced with questions about his rivals. This is true even in the case of the controversial finish of the 2021 F1 season when some questionable ruling on the final lap gave Verstappen the title over Hamilton.
Lastly, the sections that describes Hamilton’s activism, his quotes about events such as the police shooting of Breanna Taylor and his calm demeanor that makes his statements even more powerful. He handles this topic as skillfully and masterfully as he does a race car. In the same manner, Sawyer handles this topic well. While his text when interjecting his own thoughts with Hamilton’s can come across as much stronger, it is written even-handedly and fairly. For all of these reasons, this reader who wanted to learn more about Hamilton believes this is an excellent book for that endeavor.
I wish to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
June 18, 2025
Disappointed. Huge Lewis fan. This was just someone’s thesis and opinion. It was a collection of information that is accessible already.
March 9, 2025
Wonderful storytelling and a great up to date summary of Lewis Hamilton and his career. This book is meant for everyone. It’s for fans of F1 and Lewis who want an updated biography on him and for people who want to learn more about F1 and its only black driver. I know quite a few people that are aware of Lewis because of his star power but don’t necessarily watch F1 or know the difference between F1 and Nascar. This book does a really good job of Telling Lewis’ story and centering his blackness while also contextualizing the sport of F1 for those that might not follow it. I also appreciated that this book compared Lewis’ presence as a black driver in Formula one to that of Tiger Woods in the PGA or Simone Biles in gymnastics. Formula 1 really is a whole other world and nobody really expected black people to be apart of it. Racism has never gone away but in this political landscape blatant racism is becoming increasingly normalized in spaces where it used to be quiet, and we are continuing to go backwards as a society, this updated biography on Lewis that chronicles his entire career and centers his blackness post 2020 where we saw Lewis take a knee and stand in solidarity with BLM against police brutality is incredibly poignant.
February 21, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
100/5 ⭐️ for Lewis Hamilton
2/5 ⭐️ for this book
I will preface this by saying I went into this book as a huge Lewis Hamilton fan (and still am). I believe their are 2 kinds of people who will pick up this book: big fans of Lewis or folks who are curious about the "Sir" and want to know who this man is that was knighted. Unfortunately, I don't think this book was written for either audience.
At its best, Sir Lewis highlights the specific experience and struggle Lewis had to overcome in being the first Black driver in a very white sport. This is particularly important because so many try to erase Hamilton's Black identity and claim his (and many folk's) struggle to get into Formula 1 is a class struggle. While it's true the sport of by no means a meritocracy and rewards vomit-inducing amount of wealth, there is a specific struggle that Lewis Hamilton has gone through that no other F1 driver has to-datw. The egregious amount of racism, specifically anti-Blackness, he has faced and continued to face is both alarming and unsurprising. Despite this, he has proven himself to be one of the greatest athletes of all time, certainly the greatest in Formula 1.
The biggest weakness of this book is the lack of any new information or access to Hamilton. While the book is meticulously researched, I would recommend folks read Hamilton's autobiography over this book (it is quoted extensively). On top of that, the book is extremely repetitive and over-explains everything about Formula 1. There is an entire chapter dedicated to explaining what qualifying is. This made the book drag so much for me. If you want to give a little primer on F1, do a single chapter at the beginning so folks can skip it if they want. I do believe most people reading this will already know quite a bit about the sport.
Sadly, this was a miss for me.
100/5 ⭐️ for Lewis Hamilton
2/5 ⭐️ for this book
I will preface this by saying I went into this book as a huge Lewis Hamilton fan (and still am). I believe their are 2 kinds of people who will pick up this book: big fans of Lewis or folks who are curious about the "Sir" and want to know who this man is that was knighted. Unfortunately, I don't think this book was written for either audience.
At its best, Sir Lewis highlights the specific experience and struggle Lewis had to overcome in being the first Black driver in a very white sport. This is particularly important because so many try to erase Hamilton's Black identity and claim his (and many folk's) struggle to get into Formula 1 is a class struggle. While it's true the sport of by no means a meritocracy and rewards vomit-inducing amount of wealth, there is a specific struggle that Lewis Hamilton has gone through that no other F1 driver has to-datw. The egregious amount of racism, specifically anti-Blackness, he has faced and continued to face is both alarming and unsurprising. Despite this, he has proven himself to be one of the greatest athletes of all time, certainly the greatest in Formula 1.
The biggest weakness of this book is the lack of any new information or access to Hamilton. While the book is meticulously researched, I would recommend folks read Hamilton's autobiography over this book (it is quoted extensively). On top of that, the book is extremely repetitive and over-explains everything about Formula 1. There is an entire chapter dedicated to explaining what qualifying is. This made the book drag so much for me. If you want to give a little primer on F1, do a single chapter at the beginning so folks can skip it if they want. I do believe most people reading this will already know quite a bit about the sport.
Sadly, this was a miss for me.
June 23, 2025
eu esperava algo mais, essa biografia parece ser um grande compilado de coisas que nós(fãs do lewis) já sabemos sobre ele
August 20, 2025
very insightful and beautifully poetic
April 7, 2025
This is not a good book as a biography. I’ll freely admit that I come to F1 from drive to survive, but even I can pick out massive errors in Sawyer’s work that either he or copy should have caught. One of the more egregious examples is his inability to even check Wikipedia to see that Alonso had never driven for Williams, and won the 05 and 06 titles in a Renault and returned to Renault in 08. The other thing about this book is that it’s a terrible biography. This is not about Lewis Hamilton or his career. This is about what Lewis Hamilton means to Sawyer, and as suck he has to ignore things like Barcelona 2016 because they don’t fit his narrative. He needs Hamilton to be a paragon, but I think the story would have been more impactful if he’s allowed Lewis to be a human being who makes mistakes and learns from them. So yeah, this is great if you want sawyer’s opinion of what he thinks Lewis is, it’s great. If you want any sort of objectivity, you’re out of luck.
Also, I am not a fan of anything that uses literal pages of quotes or plays some sort of high school game of calling out twitter users for saying mean things. The former because it’s not a very pleasant read and to me says the author can’t write very well and the latter because it makes this grad studies professor look like a child.
Also, I am not a fan of anything that uses literal pages of quotes or plays some sort of high school game of calling out twitter users for saying mean things. The former because it’s not a very pleasant read and to me says the author can’t write very well and the latter because it makes this grad studies professor look like a child.
August 9, 2025
This book was my first F1 driver Biography and I loved it. I loved reading about everything Lewis has been through since his karting days all the way till F1. I loved hearing about his struggles and how he got to be as we know a 7 time world champion (should be 8 time world champion). I loved hearing about how he dealt was the racism he would get and everything that happened to black people at the time. I loved hearing about the decisions he had made in the F1 world and the teams he has been with
February 3, 2025
The introduction to this book is so poorly written that I have put it down for now.
I can't get over the author's poor syntax and unnecessarily graphic depictions of how certain events could have panned out
I can't get over the author's poor syntax and unnecessarily graphic depictions of how certain events could have panned out
June 12, 2025
This is not the most stylistically polished or well-structured book you’ll read, but it delivers a solid amount of detail about Lewis Hamilton’s personality and life — both on and off the track. As someone who has read many sports biographies and followed F1 closely since 2005, I can confidently say that most of the facts here are accurate and easily verifiable.
The book’s real strength lies in how it reveals the enormous challenges Hamilton has faced — not just as a driver, but as a person breaking barriers in a sport that wasn’t built to welcome someone like him. It shows his exceptional character and his ability to face adversity with dignity — whether it was dealing with Alonso, Nelson Piquet, or Michael Masi.
Hamilton succeeded in overcoming challenges that most drivers — especially those who grew up on the decks of their fathers’ yachts — couldn't even imagine existed. That alone makes his journey remarkable.
The book also subtly exposes how the F1 system has always struggled to accept the idea that Lewis could surpass Michael Schumacher as the greatest. I hope he proves them all wrong by taking his rightful 8th world title and continues living with the same integrity outside the sport. Sir Lewis Hamilton is bigger than this sport! “Still we rise”
The book’s real strength lies in how it reveals the enormous challenges Hamilton has faced — not just as a driver, but as a person breaking barriers in a sport that wasn’t built to welcome someone like him. It shows his exceptional character and his ability to face adversity with dignity — whether it was dealing with Alonso, Nelson Piquet, or Michael Masi.
Hamilton succeeded in overcoming challenges that most drivers — especially those who grew up on the decks of their fathers’ yachts — couldn't even imagine existed. That alone makes his journey remarkable.
The book also subtly exposes how the F1 system has always struggled to accept the idea that Lewis could surpass Michael Schumacher as the greatest. I hope he proves them all wrong by taking his rightful 8th world title and continues living with the same integrity outside the sport. Sir Lewis Hamilton is bigger than this sport! “Still we rise”
June 20, 2025
THIS WAS SO GOOD.
however.
the author is definitely bias and while that was to be expected, at times it was overwhelming. especially when the lewis and max silverstone ‘21 crash was written about- i feel like it was really glossed over that lewis nearly killed max… but their crash in italy (where max was at fault dgmw) was written about in much more detail.
other than that i really enjoyed reading this!! the author did so much research and i learned so much especially about spygate and i didn’t know how tense alonso and lewis’ relationship was?? that was so tea.
ANYWAYS I LOVED THIS BOOK IF YOU LOVE LEWIS YOU WILL LOVE THIS. (as a 3344 fan i was holding on for dear life at some points but it’s okay)
however.
the author is definitely bias and while that was to be expected, at times it was overwhelming. especially when the lewis and max silverstone ‘21 crash was written about- i feel like it was really glossed over that lewis nearly killed max… but their crash in italy (where max was at fault dgmw) was written about in much more detail.
other than that i really enjoyed reading this!! the author did so much research and i learned so much especially about spygate and i didn’t know how tense alonso and lewis’ relationship was?? that was so tea.
ANYWAYS I LOVED THIS BOOK IF YOU LOVE LEWIS YOU WILL LOVE THIS. (as a 3344 fan i was holding on for dear life at some points but it’s okay)
dnf
September 9, 2025DNFing at chapter seven for the line "The Spaniard, Fernando Alonso, had already notched two World Drivers' Championships with Williams Racing". If this basic fact is wrong in both the eBook and audiobook how can I trust the accuracy of the rest of the material?
March 25, 2025
Ripped through this mostly on the audiobook. There wasn’t much that Lewis fans wouldn’t know already but it was nice to have it all put together.
I need Shane Jospeh to narrate all audiobooks.
I need Shane Jospeh to narrate all audiobooks.
April 29, 2025
I’ve never understood the Lewis Hamilton hype in f1 (besides the fact he won/ wins a lot) but there is SO much more to it
August 12, 2025
fuck michael masi
also i love how me reading this book on a beach at mallorca caused a whole ass italian family to frown at me everytime they walked by
also i love how me reading this book on a beach at mallorca caused a whole ass italian family to frown at me everytime they walked by
August 14, 2025
This might have been good if I had never heard of Lewis Hamilton or known what F1 is.
April 1, 2025
Sir Lewis is the GOAT, but I don’t think this book did him justice
Read
July 29, 2025Being a huge Lewis fan, I didn’t know what to expect from this one — Lewis isn’t actually affiliated with this book nor is he interviewed for it. But the 7-time world champion for Formula 1 has a very public life so his story is very out there. This book does a deep dive into his career and life, pulling from many sources and providing context so that even the non or new F1 fan can keep up.
My biggest takeaway is something I already knew but thoroughly enjoyed being reminded of — Lewis’s legacy exceeds what he’s done in his sport. He will forever be known as a great driver — the GOAT, in my and many’s opinion — and a great person. So few athletes get to be both, and this book explains that perfectly.
I really enjoyed this one on audio (would have enjoyed it more had Lewis read it lol oh well)
My biggest takeaway is something I already knew but thoroughly enjoyed being reminded of — Lewis’s legacy exceeds what he’s done in his sport. He will forever be known as a great driver — the GOAT, in my and many’s opinion — and a great person. So few athletes get to be both, and this book explains that perfectly.
I really enjoyed this one on audio (would have enjoyed it more had Lewis read it lol oh well)
February 2, 2025
I adore Lewis Hamilton. I wanted to also adore this book but at times, it wasn’t even about Lewis. I didn’t love the writing but that might be on me because I normally don’t read biographies. Maybe I would’ve liked this more as a audiobook. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
dnf
June 24, 2025apparently i don’t have a dedicated dnf shelf. i guess i should make one.
dnf’ing this, might try to come back to it later. the author keeps saying things and then being like “anyway let’s ignore that.” ??????why’d you say it then??????? word count?????????
it’s just not well written and talks about golfers way too much. if i wanted to read about golfers i’d read a book about golfers.
dnf’ing this, might try to come back to it later. the author keeps saying things and then being like “anyway let’s ignore that.” ??????why’d you say it then??????? word count?????????
it’s just not well written and talks about golfers way too much. if i wanted to read about golfers i’d read a book about golfers.
March 21, 2025
I read this for 12 hours straight! In one night, I learned an entire sport with enough detail to grasp the implications of every qualifier, tire choice and team strategy. I was annotating the margins like a grad student/conspiracy nut.
My previous F1 knowledge could be summarized as— Carlando reels (don’t judge me!), three sport romances, and my favorite movies being Speed Racer & Iron Man 2. My only introduction to Lewis was an article I read when he sponsored a table of Black designers at the 2020 MET. Now, I know everything about his rookie year, the rivalries and reconciliations, and why people debate whether or not he's the Greatest F1 Driver of all time.
All of this is in service of reframing our understanding of who Lewis Hamilton is before he starts racing with Ferrari this year. Hamilton has been deeply criticized in pop culture for leaving Mercedez, valuing his luxury lifestyle and receiving special treatment. But this analysis makes you reconsider the racial aggressions that are at play.
About the book...
Obviously, I cannot speak to the author's intent in writing this book (actually, I was shocked at the lack of an author's note) but the spirit of the project felt to me, two-fold:
Throughout his career, reporting has danced around the fact that Lewis is the only Black driver in F1 history. But Sawyer’s holistic approach to telling the whole story and his expertise in African American Literature & Culture creates a uniquely definitive picture. I could easily pick out when the author pushes his own point of view or “Lewis worship”, but I took it as an opportunity to step back and reflect on my own thoughts.
He was surprisingly critical about Lewis' activism, but then never condemns his driving style. The opinions he had of Lewis' rivals could be shockingly harsh and spoken with such authority. You'd never see that boldness from an autobiography, but I loved the drama. I don’t believe the focus is on conversion, but instead providing context to appreciate Lewis' position in the sport using his competitors and the history of legendary Black athletes. It aligns with Lewis' reputation today as a consummate professional, trailblazing activist, and devoted son.
My previous F1 knowledge could be summarized as— Carlando reels (don’t judge me!), three sport romances, and my favorite movies being Speed Racer & Iron Man 2. My only introduction to Lewis was an article I read when he sponsored a table of Black designers at the 2020 MET. Now, I know everything about his rookie year, the rivalries and reconciliations, and why people debate whether or not he's the Greatest F1 Driver of all time.
All of this is in service of reframing our understanding of who Lewis Hamilton is before he starts racing with Ferrari this year. Hamilton has been deeply criticized in pop culture for leaving Mercedez, valuing his luxury lifestyle and receiving special treatment. But this analysis makes you reconsider the racial aggressions that are at play.
About the book...
Obviously, I cannot speak to the author's intent in writing this book (actually, I was shocked at the lack of an author's note) but the spirit of the project felt to me, two-fold:
1. To introduce Hamilton to the American audience who haven’t had access to his story. This is not a celebrity memoir. There are no exclusive interviews or scandalous secrets to be spilled. But it does an incredible job of explaining every step of Hamilton’s rookie season in a way that shows you exactly how impactful he has been. I couldn’t help but think that this reads JUST LIKE A MOVIE! Which is great for me, since I had zero idea how Formula 1 worked.
2. To tell Hamilton's story without removing the implications of his race. In America, we might roll our eyes and say "of course, his blackness is a huge factor." But Formula 1 has traditionally been based in Europe, where media coverage is very different.
Throughout his career, reporting has danced around the fact that Lewis is the only Black driver in F1 history. But Sawyer’s holistic approach to telling the whole story and his expertise in African American Literature & Culture creates a uniquely definitive picture. I could easily pick out when the author pushes his own point of view or “Lewis worship”, but I took it as an opportunity to step back and reflect on my own thoughts.
He was surprisingly critical about Lewis' activism, but then never condemns his driving style. The opinions he had of Lewis' rivals could be shockingly harsh and spoken with such authority. You'd never see that boldness from an autobiography, but I loved the drama. I don’t believe the focus is on conversion, but instead providing context to appreciate Lewis' position in the sport using his competitors and the history of legendary Black athletes. It aligns with Lewis' reputation today as a consummate professional, trailblazing activist, and devoted son.
March 4, 2025
My teens got into F1 after a friend talked it up so much that they started watching and were quickly hooked. They then turned it into a family affair by getting me and their dad into it as well.
I’ll be honest, I’m pretty shocked that F1 is such an enjoyable thing (for me) to watch, (I was hit as a pedestrian by a speeding drunk driver years ago - I have complex PTSD and an intense fear of speeding vehicles), but there’s something about F1 that somehow doesn’t bother me; maybe it’s the EMDR therapy I’ve been doing for the past year, but this newfound ability to not only watch but extremely enjoy F1 racing has been not only a real surprise but also a real pleasure, because it’s wildly fun.
I was really pleased to receive an early copy of this biography to learn more about the man who’s become our favorite driver. During my reading, I shared with my kids what I found admirable about Lewis - we particularly appreciate how he overcame barriers and adversity in a sport that’s historically lacked diversity (and thrived), his charity for underrepresented young people, his commitment to charitable works, his veganism; he seems like a truly caring, kind, and remarkable human - plus he’s an amazingly talented driver.
I appreciated that the book was both informative and engaging, not at all dry. Showcasing Hamilton’s upbringing, struggles, facing adversity, racism, shattering barriers firmly in place of a sport whose resistance to diversity is deeply rooted, achievements, charitable creations and commitments, and what you are left with is a richer view of an admirable person and athlete - what really stands out is how Hamilton's impact reaches far beyond the racetrack.
Recommended!
Thank you to Legacy Lit and NetGalley for the DRC
I’ll be honest, I’m pretty shocked that F1 is such an enjoyable thing (for me) to watch, (I was hit as a pedestrian by a speeding drunk driver years ago - I have complex PTSD and an intense fear of speeding vehicles), but there’s something about F1 that somehow doesn’t bother me; maybe it’s the EMDR therapy I’ve been doing for the past year, but this newfound ability to not only watch but extremely enjoy F1 racing has been not only a real surprise but also a real pleasure, because it’s wildly fun.
I was really pleased to receive an early copy of this biography to learn more about the man who’s become our favorite driver. During my reading, I shared with my kids what I found admirable about Lewis - we particularly appreciate how he overcame barriers and adversity in a sport that’s historically lacked diversity (and thrived), his charity for underrepresented young people, his commitment to charitable works, his veganism; he seems like a truly caring, kind, and remarkable human - plus he’s an amazingly talented driver.
I appreciated that the book was both informative and engaging, not at all dry. Showcasing Hamilton’s upbringing, struggles, facing adversity, racism, shattering barriers firmly in place of a sport whose resistance to diversity is deeply rooted, achievements, charitable creations and commitments, and what you are left with is a richer view of an admirable person and athlete - what really stands out is how Hamilton's impact reaches far beyond the racetrack.
Recommended!
Thank you to Legacy Lit and NetGalley for the DRC
April 9, 2025
Any insight into F1 is fun for me! Thank you for writing this book.
Growing up in England, F1 is a sport you are made aware of. If you have any interest in sport or culture you will know the drivers, especially the British drivers. Even with this, I learnt some stuff. America is catching up, but mostly because F1 is now more of a business. Some, because of Drive to Survive, some because it is elite, and if there is something America is more preoccupied with than money, it is being the best.
The author, who is a black man, assigns some of Hamilton’s actions to his blackness, when I, as an English man, would assign some of those same actions to his Englishness; we all see things through our own lens. The more people who want to claim Lewis as their own, the better. Lewis IS undoubtedly the GOAT and he represents many.
The racism and exclusive nature of F1 absolutely needs to change. This book highlights things I did not know; I will never look at Alonso the same way again. There is no room for racism anywhere.
I now live in Pittsburgh and Sawyer is a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. I was fortunate to attend Sawyer’s lecture launching this book. I received the book about Lewis Hamilton for my birthday, I attended the lecture about Lewis Hamilton on my birthday, and yet, as I was having my copy signed, the host (not the author), also a black man, hearing my accent and part of me assuming in recognition of my whiteness, said “oh, you must like Lando Norris”. I am still confused by this.
Here’s to Sir Lewis Hamilton! The GOAT. May your success continue at Ferrari and may you secure your eighth title. May you continue to impact the world with your support of causes and activism. I do like Lando, but I like you more.
Growing up in England, F1 is a sport you are made aware of. If you have any interest in sport or culture you will know the drivers, especially the British drivers. Even with this, I learnt some stuff. America is catching up, but mostly because F1 is now more of a business. Some, because of Drive to Survive, some because it is elite, and if there is something America is more preoccupied with than money, it is being the best.
The author, who is a black man, assigns some of Hamilton’s actions to his blackness, when I, as an English man, would assign some of those same actions to his Englishness; we all see things through our own lens. The more people who want to claim Lewis as their own, the better. Lewis IS undoubtedly the GOAT and he represents many.
The racism and exclusive nature of F1 absolutely needs to change. This book highlights things I did not know; I will never look at Alonso the same way again. There is no room for racism anywhere.
I now live in Pittsburgh and Sawyer is a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. I was fortunate to attend Sawyer’s lecture launching this book. I received the book about Lewis Hamilton for my birthday, I attended the lecture about Lewis Hamilton on my birthday, and yet, as I was having my copy signed, the host (not the author), also a black man, hearing my accent and part of me assuming in recognition of my whiteness, said “oh, you must like Lando Norris”. I am still confused by this.
Here’s to Sir Lewis Hamilton! The GOAT. May your success continue at Ferrari and may you secure your eighth title. May you continue to impact the world with your support of causes and activism. I do like Lando, but I like you more.
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