Lewis Hamilton has won Grands Prix around the globe, and visited more countries than he can count – but there’s only one he can call home.
Lewis Hamilton was born in England, and therefore is British. He races under the British flag, but he doesn’t actually live in the country. Like many Formula One drivers, he’s based in Monaco, and his decision to leave the UK wasn’t well-received by the British public.
Facing Media Scrutiny
Lewis Hamilton was born and raised in the small town of Stevenage, north of London, and his parents Carmen Larbalestier and Anthony Hamilton got divorced when he was two. His grandparents emigrated from Grenada to the UK back in the ‘50s, and being mixed-race presented an obstacle for Hamilton even a half a century later.
He was hailed as Formula One’s first black driver, but that didn’t shield him from racist abuse he faced in the past. He was bullied in school, and on the track, and abuse and racism didn’t simply go away when he made the name for himself in the predominantly white sport.
After making his Formula debut in 2007, Hamilton decided to move to Switzerland, and cited media scrutiny and the lack of privacy as the main reason for his move. He later admitted that financial issues also played a role, because he would pay significantly less tax than in the UK.
Hamilton didn’t stick around in Switzerland for too long, and decided to settle in a luxury apartment in Monaco in 2010. Metro also reported that he owns an apartment in New York, and an estate in Colorado.
Defending His Britishness
Lewis Hamilton is still racing under the British flag, but his decision to leave his country and avoid paying taxes angered the British public. Despite his many Formula One triumphs, he’s not exactly beloved in England, and he received a lot of media scrutiny over the years.
Hamilton doesn’t think there’s anything problematic about moving to Monaco, because many drivers did the same in the past without being slammed. He still enjoys coming back to his home country, and takes pride in being a part of its rich Formula One history.
“I feel fully British and also I still like to honor my family heritage… I go to all these races and wear the British flag proudly and there is no one else who has raised it so high,” explained the Formula One champion.
Hamilton also said that his heart is still in the UK, and that he enjoys going back to see his family, and the beautiful countryside. His attempts to avoid UK taxes are still frowned upon, and seen as a failure to give back to the country that made his success possible.
The High Honor
Members of the British public may not be extremely fond of Lewis Hamilton, but that doesn’t minimize his success. He’s still one of the best Formula One drivers that this country ever produced, and he received numerous trophies that reflect his success – even in his home country.
Hamilton scored a total of six British Grand Prix victories, more than any other driver in history. He won his first in 2008, and managed to walk away with the trophy on five more occasions – in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Back in 2009, Hamilton received one of the highest honors in the UK – he was awarded an MBE by the Queen, for his services to motor racing. He described this honor as “one of the most overwhelming experiences” of his life, and said he didn’t realize how special it was until it happened to him.
Hamilton also discussed being invited to lunch with the Queen during an appearance on Graham Norton’s show, and revealed that he even got to sit next to the famous monarch. It doesn’t get more British than that!