Along Came Lewis

I am a 26 year old trying to achieve something really great in life, so that the people, who knew me, will remember for their lifetime. But there is this kid who is hardly 23 years old and he has achieved manifold for his age. I am referring to none of other than Lewis Carl Hamilton, the Brit who stole the Formula 1 circuit by his sheer talent and determination.

Born on the 7th of January 1985 (all those who share this DoB with Lewis, you guys have to be proud), Lewis took to racing Karts (famously referred as Go-Karting) at the tender age of eight. This was the age when I starting playing Chinese checkers, and look at this guy, he is racing Karts!!! Sure he is child prodigy!!!



The tenacity of the kid is audacious, that at the age of nine, he met Ron Dennis, the McLaren F1 team boss, and told him he would drive for McLaren one day; and just as he augured, four years later, he was signed to the McLaren driver development program. So, the hard part was over, to break into a big brand name that could carry his dreams as theirs. It was left to Lewis to impress his team & his fans, and guess what, that’s what he did; he won the European Karting Championship in 2000 with maximum points and followed it up with the Formula Renault, Formula 3 and GP2 titles.

It was just a matter a time for him to break into the Formula 1 scene which happened in 2007. He was appointed as a Formula 1 driver for McLaren in 2007. He was considered as a second choice driver in the team, as the McLaren team had roped in Fernando (Alonso), the current & double Formula 1 title holder from Renault. He was just a rookie and all the Formula 1 enthusiasts and McLaren fans, who knew very less about the prowess of Lewis, wondered why in the first place a rookie was given a chance to race for McLaren. Every start in the making has similar problems and this kid answered all his critics with a podium finish. He finished 3rd on the season opening Australian Grand Prix.

A Proud Father and Son

The critics, they never keep quiet, and they started dubbing this finish by Lewis as sheer luck. Know what Lewis did to shut their mouth, bettered this 3rd place, by a 2nd place finish at the next Malaysian Grand Prix. The media world started noticing the competence of the new man in the circuit and all the focus and attention was turned on Lewis. Imagine, at the age of 22, when the whole world of Formula 1 is looking at you, the stress is at exorbitant levels and you are compelled to perform better and better after every race. HE JUST DID THAT!!!

After 5 races on the calendar and becoming the youngest driver to have 5 consecutive podium finishes and also the youngest driver & a rookie to lead a Formula 1 season, all eyes were on Lewis and with the expectation of his first race win. It was Montreal in Canada, when his dream came true; Lewis effectively led from pole to the chequered flag to take his first race win at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit on 10th June 2007. It was a cherishable day for the young man from Hertfordshire in England to have become the first Brit after Damon Hill in the last 10 years to have won a race starting from pole position.

Lewis followed the Canadian Grand Prix win with the U.S. Grand Prix a week later, followed by a couple of 3rd place finishes in Monte-Carlo and Silverstone (in front of his home crowd). I still remember the face-off between teammates Fernando and Lewis in the 35th Lap of the U.S. Grand Prix, when Fernando tried an overtaking maneuver with Lewis, such an awesome defensive driving by Lewis, the two-time champ was not able to get past him not just in that lap, but for the next 38 laps.

Sure he is a celebrity in the genesis and the coming days will prove he is one. For those of who missed Michael Schumacher’s sunny days, here’s another chance to relive those moments with Lewis Hamilton.