What Do Lewis Hamilton’s Tattoos Mean?

As the Formula 1 season of 2021 has kicked off, Lewis Hamilton, who already beat Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 race wins last year, chases the record for most world championship titles. Currently equalling Schumacher for seven championships, the 36-year-old driver is looking to become the best Formula 1 race car driver of all time. 

A family affair

One of Hamilton’s sisters married a tattoo artist, so he says he was exposed to the art quite early on. As he adds titles and wins to his name, the list of tattoos on his body also keeps growing. Let’s take a look at what the knighted F1 legend has chosen to adorn himself with. 

One of the Mercedes driver’s most recognisable and famous tattoos are inspired by another legend within a different field, in a business that has proven as deadly as the racetrack. On his back, Hamilton has a large cross flanked by angel wings with the words ‘Still I Rise’ written above. When speaking about the motive, Hamilton has said that, 

“I mean, the idea originally came from Tupac, who was my favourite rapper. It took like, I think 10 hours or something like that, just in one go, straightaway.” 

Apparently, the stamina to endure forces up to 6 G for up to two hours translates into resilience under the needle. Ten hours straight is pretty hardcore for the artist as well as the canvas. The quote comes from a poem by another badass, American civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Hamilton also says he has loved his back ever since and often checks it out in the mirror. 

Family and Faith

Many of Hamilton’s tattoos are religiously themed. On his right arm, he has a sleeve consisting of a guardian angel, a sacred heart, and a rendering of Michelangelo’s Pieta – the sculpture of Mary holding Jesus’ body after he was taken down from the cross. He also has a compass representing the direction he feels that his regular Sunday church visits provide him in life on his sternum, and the words ‘family’ and ‘faith’ on his shoulders.

On the left side of his chest, Hamilton has a lion that he says represents ferociousness and passion and being the herd leader. Hamilton has said that he gets tattoos that have a deeper meaning to him. As he mourns the death of one of his beloved bulldogs from last summer, could we soon see a portrait of Coco and maybe her brother Roscoe, arguably the coolest dog around the F1 race tracks? 

Hamilton already has a rose on his ribs commemorating his aunt, who passed away. On his shoulder, he also has a motive of his father throwing him in the air as a kid, with a clock in the background, demonstrating how special to share that moment of play and joy was to them. 

Powerful beyond measure

For now, however, the most recent additions to Hamilton’s tattoo collection are pieces added to his hands. He now has a swordsman’s sign, along with an hourglass and the symbol for his star sign, Capricorn, on his right hand. His left hand has sacred geometry and alchemy symbols. 

He also has a line on his neck that says God is Love. In addition, there is lettering from another poem across his collarbones. This time it is from Marianne Williamson and a poem that Nelson Mandela borrowed during his inaugural speech. The line across Hamilton’s chest reads ‘Powerful beyond measure’. The line of the poem says, ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure’. If anyone does not seem afraid to step into their greatness, it is Sir Lewis Hamilton.