Lewis Williamson
A Scottish driver who battled through the junior ranks to reach the pinnacle of single-seater racing, securing a Formula 1 test with Red Bull.
Born 1989 (age 37)·British racing driver·Birthday: November 11·Millennials
Biography
Lewis Williamson emerged from the Scottish town of Golspie with a fierce determination for speed. His karting prowess propelled him into the UK's cutthroat single-seater scene, where he consistently proved his mettle. The 2009 Formula Renault UK season saw him clinch the title, a victory that announced his serious potential. This success became his ticket to the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award and, crucially, a place in the Red Bull Junior Team. His career peak arrived in 2011 with a test drive for Red Bull Racing's Formula 1 car, sharing tarmac with the sport's elite. While a full-time F1 seat remained elusive, Williamson carved a long and respected professional path in GT and endurance racing, competing in events like the 24 Hours of Spa and becoming a fixture in the British GT Championship, known for his smooth, calculated approach behind the wheel.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lewis was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lewis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Lewis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2009 Formula Renault UK Championship, a key stepping stone to higher-level motorsport.
- Awarded the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 2009, recognizing him as a top British racing prospect.
- Secured a role as a Red Bull Junior Team driver, gaining access to Formula 1 testing opportunities.
- Tested a Red Bull Racing RB7 Formula 1 car in 2011 at the Abu Dhabi young driver test.
- Built a sustained career in GT racing, with multiple seasons as a professional in the British GT Championship.
Did You Know?
He is a trained electrician, having pursued the trade as a backup plan during his early racing career.
He won his first major car racing title, Formula Renault UK, in the same year he completed his electrical apprenticeship.
He hails from Golspie in the Scottish Highlands, an uncommon origin for an international racing driver.
He competed in the same 2009 Formula Renault UK field as future IndyCar driver James Calado.
“Winning the Formula Renault title proved I could compete at the highest level.”
