Lewis Hamilton’s career in video (Part 1)
Lewis Hamilton has lost his crown to Jenson Button
In his final video retrospective of the season, F1 Fanatic guest writer Journeyer looks at the career of outgoing world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Although Jenson Button has clinched the title in Brazil, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will technically be Lewis Hamilton’s last race as the reigning world champion. It must feel slightly odd for Lewis not to be the most noticed Briton on the grid this year, but after all the events this year, perhaps he doesn’t mind too much.
In contrast to Button’s climb to F1, Hamilton has seen success at almost all levels of motorsport. He has clinched multiple titles, and we’ll take a look at each of them in this look back at Hamilton’s career.
1996: Here’s the first TV coverage of Lewis Hamilton. Indeed, here he is racing in the Karting Cadet class as part of the Champions of the Future series. Even this early on, ITV showed a lot of love for Hamilton – note the helmet graphic they use as they show the final results.
1997: Hamilton’s meteoric rise (in conjunction with his race) meant he was easily noticed. Already, the BBC featured him as part of its Black Britain series that year. Note that Ron Dennis is already mentioned and interviewed this early on in his career in this video (not embeddable).
1998: Hamilton moved up yet another kart class, this time to Formula Junior Intercontinental. He wins his first ever final (race) in the class, but narrowly misses out on the title.
I love the bit at 0:28 – “Hero: Ayrton Senna”
2005: Lewis then spent a couple of years in Formula Renault UK, winning that title in 2003. Then it was onwards and upwards to the F3 Euroseries. After finishing 5th overall in his debut season with Manor Motorsport, he moved to ASM to team up with Adrian Sutil. He duly dominated the season, and with Sutil, ASM dominated the championship.
Here’s some video from the first race of that season in Hockenheim.
2006: It was time to move up another step, and Hamilton moved to GP2 with Nicolas Todt’s ART squad. He was locked in a title battle with Nelson Piquet Jnr, and he made sure he’d come through as the champ. Here was a gutsy pass Lewis pulled off on Piquet and Clivio Piccione at Maggotts in Silverstone.
But his most memorable race in the junior formulae was at the Istanbul sprint race, where he made an early mistake. He fell to the back, but overtook almost the entire field to finish second. This and other remarkable performances allowed him to clinch the title at his first and only attempt.
With the sudden departure of Juan Pablo Montoya, it meant there was a free seat for Lewis at McLaren in 2007. We’ll take a look at his F1 career to date tomorrow.
Read more: Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton – how Britain’s world champions compare
Owen G said on 29th October 2009, 23:48
Interesting comment from Marcus… deciding to forget all about 2007 when Hamilton beat Alonso in the championship. In the same machinery. As a rookie.
Bud said on 30th October 2009, 0:39
Istanbul 2006, that’s the day I became a believer.
He’s special, and I reckon the best is still to come.
Nice to see the Senna/Mansell/Montoya spirit back in F1.
Thanks for the vids Keith, nice one.
Is Abu Dhabi gonna be in HD on Speed??
C4 said on 30th October 2009, 2:02
It is shown on SPEED-HD but just upscaled and widescreen. Not true HD. Bernie doesn’t want to pay for that.
Platine said on 30th October 2009, 1:18
Also, I think this year will have taught him a lot, in al areas, adversity is a great teacher, he is gonna kick some serious be hind when he gets a proper car.
Also, he didnt even know the circuits and the whole F1 thang before, now hes settled, stronger, wiser, all his doubters will eat their words.
Ayrton said on 30th October 2009, 1:33
I was in Turkey watching the GP2 race at that infamous corner, and I have never seen a drive like Hamilton did that day. It was unbelievable and everybody watching knew he was a star…the next year he proved it. It reminded me of Senna in Japan 1988 and also at Donnington in 1993. Despite all hamilton’s critics the one thing he can do and does do is pass cars…and there is no one on the grid that has that skill in such abundance (e.g. vettel). This is the race that made me Ham fan!
Great post…can’t wait for the next part. I found myself clapping and whooping at the end of watching the GP2 vid…it has made my day :-)
Becken said on 30th October 2009, 5:42
If it was not for Timo, Lewis would have won that race:
You can rewatch it in full here:
http://www.megavideo.com/?v=MVH3G8AD
neracer said on 30th October 2009, 11:31
wicked! what a boy. big smiles now.
HounslowBusGarage said on 30th October 2009, 12:29
It really doesn’t matter if you count yourself a ‘fan’ or not, the man has incredible talent not just in driving fast, but in passing other drivers as well.
marcus said on 30th October 2009, 12:53
damn posting my orginal screwed up on this website i will have to make this quick dont take to heart it was alot bigger and I explained it alot more:
07 not fair since both Alonso and Hamilton were at each others throats so they were not driving 100%.
Lewis done as well as Alonso because he gave lewis his settings.
Alonso underestimated Lewis blah blah was under more pressue in 2007 but still drawed with him.
Lewis i think wont do well in 2010 season with tyre wear and heavy fuel loads.
Alonso has dealt with heavy fuel loads for 2 years with Renault in the past seasons.
Ferrari are good helping other drivers deal with tyrewear.
Lewis goes through more tyres then i go through hot dinners. And always goes for the light fuel load because he is mostly upfront.
Alonso a more stable driver through the season then Lewis.
Im not biased im a Vettel fan and english so cant you accuse me.
Alonso should win 2010 because he wont be paranoid with a italian team favoring a italian driver.
Lewis has never won a world title with Alonso being in a decent car.
i think thats it…
Becken said on 30th October 2009, 17:07
You are a Troll and that kind of cheap ones…
f1dv said on 31st October 2009, 4:06
always starting from karting :)