With the 2007 F1 Grand Prix season well and truly under way, I have suddenly renewed my interest as a British sport fan. The reason? The awesome start made by the young English driver named Lewis Hamilton.
Only four races in and he has already broken two records:
- The first driver ever to have a podium finish in their first four races.
- The youngest ever championship leader (he’s only 22).
I know it’s early days but people are already saying that he is going to be better than Michael Scumacher.
It’s already an interesting story with Lewis in that he was spotted at an early age (he was Karting at the age of 8!) by McLaren boss Ron Dennis and has been part of the Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support Programme since its inception in 1998. He moved through the ranks of karting winning various Championships including the ‘McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future’ karting series in 1998. Lewis dominated the 2003 British Formula Renault Championship winning 10 out of the Championship’s 15 races. In 2004 Lewis competed in the prominent Formula 3 Euro series with Manor Motorsport, powered by Mercedes-Benz engines. In 2005, Lewis dominated the F3 Euro Series Championship, in a car powered by Mercedes-Benz. On 8th September 2006 Lewis won the GP2 Series Championship with the ART team at Monza in Italy, winning five out of 22 rounds, and on Wednesday 13th September 2007 Lewis tested the Team McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 car for the first time at the Silverstone circuit in the UK.
Ironically, when he became the youngest ever F1 Championship leader he broke the record previously held since 1960 by Bruce McLaren!
To be put straight in to the F1 team along side Fernando Alonso is incredible in itself (especially as he has been given such a highly tuned car) but to finish on the podium in his first four races in just amazing.
Stay with me on this blog as I track the Rise and Rise of Lewis Hamilton.
David Allen
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