Britain has a new sporting hero - Lewis Hamilton. In the first Grand Prix of the season yesterday, the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton made his debut - and finished Third. He's the first black driver in Formula One history and the youngest driver ever to stand on the podium......
From go-kart kid to Grand Prix glory
18th March 2007
New British driver Lewis Hamilton riding for McClaren during the Australian Grand Prix yesterday. He finished third in what was his debut Formula One race.
As the first black driver in the 57-year history of Formula One, he was billed for stardom even before his first race.
But yesterday Lewis Hamilton proved with his debut that he had the talent to match the hype.
The 22-year-old from Hertfordshire became the youngest driver to step on to the Formula One podium as he took third place in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Lewis Hamilton, at the age of 22, is the youngest driver to step on to the Formula One podium after he took third place in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne - his debut race
With his good looks and the millions of pounds heading his way in sponsorship deals, his success brings to mind the arrival of Tiger Woods in the all-white realm of golf.
However, it was not that long ago that Hamilton was driving around in a go-kart that had been through seven owners.
Behind the youngster’s success, lies a story of immense sacrifice by his family. His father Anthony was working three jobs when he bought the 60cc go-kart for his son in 1995.
And where it all began, Lewis Hamilton aged 8
His hard work was rewarded when Hamilton won the Cadet Karting Championships aged ten.
In the same year he was introduced to McLaren boss Ron Dennis who reportedly told him to "give me a call in nine years".
In the end, it was only three years before he was signed up on a young driver scheme.
McLaren took a further gamble this year, when it paid £1 million to sign the untried Hamilton to its Formula One partnership.
After Melbourne, the driver - whose grandparents on his father’s side emigrated from Grenada - is tipped to earn up to £140,000 a race.
Former champion Jackie Stewart said of him: "He is the best prepared first-year Formula One driver that I have ever seen. He’s very well rounded and very skilled."
2007 Drivers Championship
1 Kimi Räikkönen Finnish Ferrari 10
2 Fernando Alonso Spanish McLaren-Mercedes 8
3 Lewis Hamilton British McLaren-Mercedes 6
4 Nick Heidfeld German BMW 5
5 Giancarlo Fisichella Italian Renault 4
6 Felipe Massa Brazilian Ferrari 3
7 Nico Rosberg German Williams-Toyota 2
8 Ralf Schumacher German Toyota 1
dailymail.co.uk
From go-kart kid to Grand Prix glory
18th March 2007
New British driver Lewis Hamilton riding for McClaren during the Australian Grand Prix yesterday. He finished third in what was his debut Formula One race.
As the first black driver in the 57-year history of Formula One, he was billed for stardom even before his first race.
But yesterday Lewis Hamilton proved with his debut that he had the talent to match the hype.
The 22-year-old from Hertfordshire became the youngest driver to step on to the Formula One podium as he took third place in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Lewis Hamilton, at the age of 22, is the youngest driver to step on to the Formula One podium after he took third place in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne - his debut race
With his good looks and the millions of pounds heading his way in sponsorship deals, his success brings to mind the arrival of Tiger Woods in the all-white realm of golf.
However, it was not that long ago that Hamilton was driving around in a go-kart that had been through seven owners.
Behind the youngster’s success, lies a story of immense sacrifice by his family. His father Anthony was working three jobs when he bought the 60cc go-kart for his son in 1995.
And where it all began, Lewis Hamilton aged 8
His hard work was rewarded when Hamilton won the Cadet Karting Championships aged ten.
In the same year he was introduced to McLaren boss Ron Dennis who reportedly told him to "give me a call in nine years".
In the end, it was only three years before he was signed up on a young driver scheme.
McLaren took a further gamble this year, when it paid £1 million to sign the untried Hamilton to its Formula One partnership.
After Melbourne, the driver - whose grandparents on his father’s side emigrated from Grenada - is tipped to earn up to £140,000 a race.
Former champion Jackie Stewart said of him: "He is the best prepared first-year Formula One driver that I have ever seen. He’s very well rounded and very skilled."
2007 Drivers Championship
1 Kimi Räikkönen Finnish Ferrari 10
2 Fernando Alonso Spanish McLaren-Mercedes 8
4 Nick Heidfeld German BMW 5
5 Giancarlo Fisichella Italian Renault 4
6 Felipe Massa Brazilian Ferrari 3
dailymail.co.uk