Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton’s journey to the pinnacle of motorsport is well known. From a lack of funds to being scouted by then-McLaren team boss Ron Dennis to join the team’s driver program at just 13, Hamilton rose through the ranks in karting and single-seaters before debuting in the sport in 2007.
Hamilton is still going strong in 2026, in his 20th season in the sport. With the highest number of wins and pole positions, and with a championship tally equal to that of Michael Schumacher, he is the sport’s most successful driver of all time.
But perhaps even more intriguing is how his interest in racing first began. Somewhat unconventionally, it started with a remote-controlled car — a memento that his father, Anthony Hamilton, still has to this day.
36 Years Later, A Piece of History
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“I have this in my office at home and look at it every day,” wrote Anthony Hamilton on his Instagram account.
“This is the original remote controlled car that started this journey in 1990 when Lewis was five years old.
“You might be able to spot a broken wheel… this was when I decided to buy him a bigger remote controlled car… that’s when the real story began…”
A valuable piece of history that sparked a curious young boy’s interest in the world of racing. With encouragement from Anthony, the young Lewis quickly progressed from toy circuits to real ones. It was an early glimpse of the determination that would one day define his career in Formula One.
A Love for Remote-Controlled Cars
By the age of six, he was already competing in remote-controlled car racing championships. In 1991, he earned two trophies while competing against adults, finishing in second place in the electric class and winning another for Best Newcomer in petrol-powered cars.
Before he rose to fame, in 1992, he even appeared on the long-running British television show Blue Peter, where he was interviewed at the age of seven. He was the youngest participant there, and in the race recorded for the show, he went on to win with ease.
His one-minute-long cameo can be viewed here. For many viewers, it was simply a light-hearted segment on a children’s programme. In hindsight, it captured one of the earliest public appearances of a future legend.
Lewis Hamilton’s Journey to the Top
Hamilton may not be anywhere near retiring, but his rise to the top is what makes him unique.
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He broke stereotypes when he became the first and only Black driver in Formula One, and he continues to pave the way for drivers from underrepresented backgrounds.
Hamilton himself fits that description. Compared to many of his rivals, he had far fewer financial resources growing up. With motorsport, and particularly Formula One, becoming increasingly difficult to enter without significant funding, Hamilton relied heavily on the sacrifices of his father,who worked three jobs to support his son’s karting career.
Raised on a council estate in Stevenage, Hamilton’s path into elite motorsport was far from typical. Being signed to McLaren’s young driver programme at just 13 helped provide the opportunity he needed to continue progressing through the ranks.