How the Cars trilogy tells the story of Lewis Hamilton’s career…a little

For racing fans (of all ages), ‘Cars’ provides entertainment and an animated alternative that helped lots of people get into enjoying racing, and even some current young drivers to pursue it is a career. However, through watching (repeatedly) with my 2 year old, Lightning McQueen obsessed son, I’ve noticed some striking similarities to one of F1’s all time greats, Lewis Hamilton.

Firstly, we can safely say, Hamilton was NOT the inspiration for this film as ‘Cars’, the original film, was released in 2006, when Hamilton was racing in GP2, the series that is now F2.

📸 Hamilton in GP2.

In the first film, ‘Cars’, we see Lightning McQueen - the main character of the film - fighting for the ‘Piston Cup’ and eventually losing out as a rookie. In the story, McQueen becomes a better racer and person through his experience in Radiator Springs, where he is held to repair a damaged road as a result of his antics. By comparison, Hamilton lost out on the 2007 title as a rookie by just one point to the better experienced Kimi Räikkönen.

📸 McQueen (centre) racing Chick Hicks (left) and Strip ‘The King’ Weathers (right) for the Piston Cup.

📸 Hamilton (left) with Räikkönen (centre) and Fernando Alonso (right).

‘Cars 2’ was released in 2011 and features McQueen at the peak of his powers; internationally recognised, adored and a multiple ‘Piston Cup’ champion fighting with the best of the best in the ‘World Grand Prix’ series. This period is easily comparable to Hamilton’s dominant 2015-2020 spell that saw him win the F1 title on five out of six seasons, and increasing his popularity with new and old F1 fans. A footnote, Hamilton appears in Cars 2 as himself, racing in the World Grand Prix, with some lines interacting with McQueen and speaking about McQueen’s confidante, Mater, a tow truck he met in the original film.

📸McQueen stays in the Piston Cup fight.

📸Hamilton celebrates title number 7.

‘Cars 3’ was released in 2017 and focuses on McQueen struggling to keep up with a new generation of racers. The film captures McQueen as he struggles to get to speed with Jackson Storm, a fast new driver who already has a Piston Cup to his name at an early stage of his career and keeps breaking McQueen’s records. McQueen instead becomes a mentor to Cruz Ramirez, and coaches her to her first ever win as a racing driver as she converts from a trainer to a racer. Hamilton also appears in the third film, this time as GPS assistant built into Ramirez.

📸McQueen with mentee, Ramirez .

Hamilton of course, has struggled to stay on top in F1 since 2022 with Max Verstappen winning the title from 2021 through 2024, with another new generation driver, Lando Norris now also an F1 Champion. When at Mercedes, it’s been often mentioned the influence Hamilton had on young drivers - particularly one Kimi Antonelli.

📸Hamilton’s struggles have been more evident since his move to Ferrari.

I have no shame in admitting I enjoy the films, even now but through repeated watching I could not help but notice how closely related these two are and I hope you’ve noticed too.

Thanks to my race car obsessed son, Ruaridh, for this one.

📸 Image credits; Disney, Pixar, Formula Motorsport Limited.