From Brazil 2007 to Britain 2025: 10 of Lewis Hamilton's Best Overtakes
A look back at 10 of Lewis Hamilton's most spectacular overtakes, spanning from his rookie 2007 season to 2025 with Ferrari. The list highlights his fearless aggression, strategic patience, and opportunistic racecraft against rivals like Alonso, Vettel, and Raikkonen in key moments that defined races and championships.
Lewis Hamilton's record-breaking career is defined not just by his seven world titles and 105 wins, but by a signature aggressive and opportunistic driving style. A retrospective of his most spectacular overtakes reveals a through-line from his fearless rookie season to his current chapter with Ferrari, showcasing a racer who has consistently seized critical moments to define races and championships.
Why it matters:
Overtaking is a core spectacle of Formula 1, and Hamilton has mastered it across different eras, car regulations, and against the sport's toughest competitors. Analyzing these moves provides a window into the racecraft, bravery, and strategic thinking that underpins his success, highlighting key battles that shaped championship outcomes and cemented his legacy as one of the sport's greatest wheel-to-wheel combatants.
The Details:
The list spans 18 years, from a debut-season recovery drive to a recent wet-weather masterclass, illustrating the evolution and consistency of his skill.
- #10: 2022 British GP (on Leclerc & Perez): A classic opportunistic move. Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, capitalized on Perez and Leclerc battling and slowing each other at Club corner, sneaking through to momentarily take second in front of his home crowd.
- #9: 2018 Italian GP (on Raikkonen): A patient, championship-winning move. After an earlier failed attempt, Hamilton bided his time and passed the leading Ferrari with a bold around-the-outside move at the Rettafilo chicane with nine laps remaining, securing a crucial victory.
- #8: 2018 Russian GP (on Vettel): Direct title rivalry aggression. After being blocked at Turn 2, Hamilton immediately repassed his championship rival Sebastian Vettel at Turn 4 in a forceful move, demonstrating a refusal to be intimidated in a critical season.
- #7: 2008 German GP (on Massa): A pivotal championship overtake. On an alternative strategy, a young Hamilton made a daring lunge on title rival Felipe Massa at the Hockenheim hairpin, with the cars nearly touching, to claim a vital win en route to his first world title.
- #6: 2011 German GP (on Alonso): Capitalizing on a rival's weakness. Hamilton pounced on Fernando Alonso immediately after the Spaniard's pit stop, sweeping around the outside on cold tires in a move that was key to securing the race win.
- #5: 2025 British GP (on Russell & Ocon): A modern wet-weather classic. In his first Ferrari season, Hamilton executed a stunning double overtake, sweeping around the outside of both George Russell and Esteban Ocon into Village corner as rain fell, showcasing his undiminished race instinct.
- #4: 2007 Australian GP (on Kubica & Alonso): A debut statement. After a poor start, the rookie announced his arrival by immediately slicing around the outside of both Robert Kubica and Fernando Alonso in one move at the first corner, finishing on the podium in his first race.
- #3: 2010 Australian GP (on Rosberg): A high-speed rarity. Hamilton pulled off a scarcely-seen overtake around the outside of Nico Rosberg through the ultra-fast Turn 11 chicane at Albert Park, a move requiring immense precision and commitment.
- #2: 2007 Italian GP (on Raikkonen): Signature late-braking. In his first season, Hamilton showcased his trademark skill, braking impossibly late into Monza's Turn 1 to pass Kimi Raikkonen for second, locking a front wheel but still making the apex.
- #1: 2007 Brazilian GP (on Barrichello): The ultimate recovery drive. After a gearbox issue dropped him to last early in his rookie title decider, Hamilton charged back through the field. His pass on Rubens Barrichello into Turn 1, with a slipstream-assisted dive down the inside, was the climax of a drive that secured the championship points he needed.
The Big Picture:
This collection underscores that Hamilton's greatness is built on more than just dominant cars. It reveals a driver whose racecraft has been a constant weapon. From the audacious, late-braking rookie to the strategically patient champion and the still-capable veteran, these overtakes are snapshots of a racer who consistently operates at the limit of possibility, turning race moments into historic highlights. As he chases an eighth title with Ferrari, this instinct for decisive overtaking remains a fundamental part of his arsenal.