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.

I'm the first to admit I'm a huge Hamilton fan. I haven't missed a race in years (yes, even that ridiculously timed Vegas GP), so I was really happy when I was approved an advanced readers copy for Sir Lewis. But this one left me wanting more.

Sawyer's book suffers from the same problem that most unauthorized biographies experience – no actual face time with the subject. For a book about someone as complex and fascinating as Lewis Hamilton, that's a pretty big miss. We get plenty of second hand takes on news stories and career highlights, but where's the different perspective?

Don't get me wrong, putting together Hamilton's story is no small feat. The man's broken nearly every record in F1 and has become a voice for change in a sport that needed it. But that's exactly why this book feels like a missed opportunity. Hoping in the future we get an autobiography — it’d be great if it came after he gets that 8th title in a Ferrari. ❤️‍🔥

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

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.

*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.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC of Sir Lewis. All opinions in this review are my own.

I am so sad to say that I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. I love Lewis Hamilton and what he has done for not only the sport of Formula 1, but also his commitment to making the world better too. I was so excited to get approved for this title that I immediately started reading it.

From the beginning, it is clear that the author is a Max hater (which I'm honestly fine with), but then he starts including comments made on Lewis's social media posts. I understand the point the author is trying to make, but it takes away from Lewis when he gives these people a space in a book about Lewis by naming them and doing a deep dive into the comment they posted online. These people are nobody important and they are just spewing hate online so to give them a section of your book was an odd choice.

There are also large portions of this book in the opening chapters that are not focused on Lewis. In one chapter, the author discusses other Black athletes who are at the pinnacle of their sports in order to draw the comparison of how Lewis's dad trained him when he was younger. While this is an important connection, multiple pages didn't need to be devoted to making it. Another chapter is solely devoted to describing the structure of qualifying for a race without mentioning Lewis once.

Luckily, once Lewis gets signed by McLaren, the book is much more focused on Lewis and is more like the Introduction than the opening chapters.

Overall, Sir Lewis struggles to focus on its main subject at times. While I still love the subject matter, I didn't love this writing.

Sir Lewis offered a powerful and meticulously researched portrait of one of the most extraordinary athletes of our time. As a biography, it struck an excellent balance between chronicling Lewis Hamilton’s groundbreaking Formula One career and exploring the social and cultural impact of his life off the track.
The book excelled in its depiction of Hamilton’s rise from a modest background in Stevenage to the heights of motorsport glory. The author delved into Hamilton’s early days karting, his relentless drive to succeed, and the immense pressure he faced breaking barriers in a sport historically resistant to diversity. These sections painted a vivid picture of Hamilton’s grit and determination, making his record-breaking achievements even more awe-inspiring.
What stood out most was the way the biography contextualized Hamilton’s influence beyond racing. From his advocacy for social justice to his trailblazing contributions to sustainability and diversity within motorsports, the author captured the complexity of Hamilton’s legacy. The narrative didn’t shy away from his challenges—both personal and professional—adding depth to the story of a man who consistently rose above adversity.
The writing occasionally leaned into hagiography, particularly in its later chapters, which celebrated Hamilton’s move to Ferrari and his enduring quest for titles. While this perspective felt deserved given Hamilton’s achievements, a slightly more critical lens might have rounded out the narrative for a fuller picture.
Overall, Sir Lewis was an engaging and thoughtful tribute to an icon whose impact transcends sport. It left me with a profound appreciation for Hamilton’s resilience and his commitment to pushing boundaries on and off the track. Whether you’re a Formula One fan or simply someone inspired by stories of extraordinary perseverance, this biography was well worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!