Lewis Hamilton
The Stats
Name: Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton
Nationality UK
D.O.B. January 07, 1985 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Resides Geneva, Switzerland
Series Formula 1
Car Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-25
Watch one of Lewis Hamiton's videos
The Basics
At only 25, Lewis Hamilton is well established as one of the biggest names in motor sport. During his debut F1 season in 2007, he won in only his 6th ever grand prix and would challenge for the title narrowly losing out to Kimi Raikkonen in the final round. The rookie’s success had such an impact that he transcended the sporting world and was catapulted to international celebrity status. A world championship win in 2008 showed that Hamilton had kept his focus despite all the hype surrounding him. He heads into 2010 as determined as ever as he teams up with fellow Briton Jenson Button in the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team.
The Big Moment
2008 Brazilian Grand Prix would go down in history as one of the most dramatic climaxes to an F1 season ever. Hamilton entered the race with a 7 point lead over nearest rival Felipe Massa. It was the Brazilian who claimed pole position with Hamilton in 4th place, and his Ferrari dominated from the start. Rain would cause drama in the race. With Massa in the lead, Hamilton needed 5th to secure the title. Hamilton ran wide in the closing laps and was down to sixth. Things looked over for Lewis, and Ferrari thought Massa had taken the title when he took the chequered flag. What Ferrari hadn’t taken into account was Hamilton’s determination. He risked everything to overtake the Toyota of Timo Glock on the final corner, of the final lap, of the final race to claim the fifth place he needed to take the title. This historic race would see Lewis become the youngest ever F1 world champion at 23.
The TV Show
Lewis appeared in the very first episode of Mobil 1 The Grid. The production team caught up with him on a busy pre season PR day in his home town of Geneva, Switzerland. The off season is certainly not a holiday for F1 drivers with a mix of fitness training, media commitments and of course testing. Fresh from his 2008 World Championship victory, Hamilton was in a relaxed frame of mind as he was interviewed for our first ever driver profile.
The Quote
Realising a childhood dream is something few people have the chance to experience. In Brazil 2008, Lewis Hamilton claimed the driver’s world championship and did just that. The man himself has his feet still firmly on the ground after tasting the ultimate level of success.
‘’ I think I haven’t even fully understood exactly what it means. But it’s bit by bit I realised exactly what I have achieved. At the beginning you know, it was just another day and, you know now I realise that through my whole life, from the beginning of watching Formula One seeing the world champions, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna. To now think all this way down the line, after all the years that I wished I was, I could be racing a Formula One car and winning and beating people like Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.. I’m there now, and I turn up at the track and people see me as number one you know, and the fact is I am number one. So it’s very very surreal, but I just have to remain humble and remain grateful for, for everything I’ve had. And all the great opportunities I’ve been given.’’
The Detail
2007 F1 debut, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. 4 wins
2008 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, World Champion. 5 wins
2009 Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, 2 wins
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