Photos : Lewis Hamilton's inner circle: Here are the women that shaped the Formula 1 driver's life
Lewis Hamilton is perhaps the greatest Formula 1 driver in history. The Briton has an unrivalled record: 7 times world champion (a record shared with Michael Schumacher), a record 103 grand prix wins, a record 104 pole positions - no-one does it better.
A successful career in sport often depends on having the right people around you. The Stevenage native has always been well supported by those close to him. Several women have helped him build his career. That's what we're going to find out in this slideshow.
The first person he could count on was, of course, his mum: Carmen Lockhart. Separated from Lewis's father when he was two, she brought him up on her own before marrying again a few years later.
She was also the first to sit him behind the wheel of a go-kart at the age of 8. Then it was Anthony Hamilton, her father, who continued to give him a taste for speed and racing cars. But it was Carmen who was the source of her child's passion.
'She's the best part of me even,' says Lewis Hamilton when asked about Carmen. These days, it's customary to see her in the paddocks, celebrating her son's victories or comforting him if need be.
Today, he never takes a step without her.
The second woman he is inseparable from is Angela Cullen. She is above all his physiotherapist. The one who looks after the Briton's physical ailments when he needs it.
Angela makes sure he's always physically fit, but also mentally. 'Whatever time it is, it's always positive, never negative, and that's very important to me,' Lewis confessed.
Angela Cullen even became his manager after his father was ousted in 2012. She always stays by his side and makes sure he's in top condition during Grand Prix races. His guardian angel.
'She was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me,' he slides in an interview to talk about the woman who helped him enormously in his career. She has since left the Hamilton clan in March 2023. But the two are still on good terms. Angela Cullen simply wanted to be closer to her family.
Lewis Hamilton may be well surrounded by family and friends, but he's still a hard man to please. The driver, who was made a Knight of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2020, has been (officially) single since 2015.
His last long relationship dates back to his romance with Nicole Scherzinger. The former Pussycat Dolls singer and the F1 champion fell in love in 2007, when he was just starting out on the track.
The pop star often accompanied him in the paddocks and celebrated many of his wins. They formed an iconic couple of the 2000s and 2010s.
She is also the one that brought him into a new sphere, that of the media and glamorous red carpets. He quickly went from being a young prodigy on the racetrack to a trendy man whose image all the brands were fighting to acquire.
Like David and Victoria Beckham before them, the couple often made the headlines in the tabloids and celebrity magazines. They also set an example for many young people. Their relationship unfortunately came to a halt in 2015, after eight years. Their reason behind their break-up is unknown.
Before Nicole Scherzinger, our dear Lewis was also in a relationship with his high school sweetheart, a certain Jodia Ma. His sweetheart at the time was the daughter of a wealthy Hong Kong businessman called Ma Bo-kee.
Their romance lasted until 2007, when he met the leader of the Pussycat Dolls.
Since Nicole, the seven-time world champion has not been able to experience such passionate love. He has had a string of more or less ephemeral relationships.
But that hasn't stopped the press from dreaming up countless conquests for him. Among the best known is Rihanna. The Briton has always had a reputation for being a womaniser, but the two stars were quick to deny the rumours.
His list of alleged conquests also includes Gigi Hadid. But the American model and the racing driver are said to be just friends. Just like Kendall Jenner, who had also been linked to Lewis Hamilton in the press. But the two protagonists buried the allegations.
Among the singers, Rita Ora and Nicky Minaj have also been announced as being more than close to the F1 champion. But here too there is little evidence to confirm whether or not there was more than friendship in the air.
Recently, Lionel's daughter Sofia Richie was spotted at several parties with Lewis. Once again, mere speculation.
The latest conquest is said to be Shakira. The Colombian singer, who separated from Gerard Piqué in June 2022, attended the Barcelona Grand Prix in June 2023. She was seen getting cosy with the English driver, even eating with him a few hours later. However, there is no concrete evidence of any romance.
Impossible for him to build a solid relationship, he said in 2018: 'I can't, I'm a workaholic. When you travel as much as I do, it's complicated to be in a relationship. I've got it in my head that I'll stay single until I stop racing'. Now that's clear.
And while his love life might be complicated, he is thriving in his career. From 2025, he and Charles Leclerc will form a new driving partnership at Ferrari. The greatest driver on the circuit today will be joining the biggest team next season. We're already salivating.
