Sir Lewis

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.

Sir Lewis is an engrossing, deeply detailed portrait of a powerful role model that transcends sport. This book is timeless, illuminating and necessary -- Mirin Fader, author of the New York Times bestsellers Giannis and Dream Michael Sawyer’s riveting narrative brings fuller context to the rise of Lewis Hamilton as the first Black, winningest race car driver, and worldwide tastemaker. This is a must read -- Tamara Payne, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winning author of Dead Are Rising: The Life of Malcolm X Gripping storytelling . . . This is a book that I will read again and again to be entertained and challenged -- Myisha Cherry, author of The Case for Rage With Sir Lewis, Michael E. Sawyer has given us one of the most probative books on Formula One since Tom Rubython’s The Life of Senna . . .a deeply engaged, knowledgeable study of Hamilton’s impact on the art and technology of Formula One racing, we discover how that impact reflects profound global socio-political transformation -- R. A. Judy, Professor of Critical and Cultural Studies at University of Pittsburg

Michael Sawyer is an Associate Professor of English and David C. Fredericks Honors College Electus Faculty Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. He has delivered talks and keynotes for numerous prestigious institutions, among them NYU, Yale, Brown, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture - New York Public Library, Morehouse College, and others. He is the author of Black Minded: the Political Philopsphy of Malcolm X (University of Chicago Press, 2020).