Lewis Hamilton is a race car driver.
The 2008 Formula One season was the 62nd season of Formula One motor racing , recognised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile ( FIA ) -- the governing body of motorsport -- as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars . Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton , MBE ( born 7 January 1985 ) is a British Formula One racing driver from England , currently racing for the Mercedes AMG Petronas team . He is the first driver in the history of F1 to have made the podium after starting 20th place or lower at least 3 times .