Lewis Hamilton
F1 Driver Extraordinaire & Phenom
Perhaps only someone who comes from a small island in the Caribbean can really appreciate how extraordinary the story of Lewis Hamilton is.
While it’s true that Hamilton was actually born in Hertfordshire, England, on January 7, 1985, his grandparents came from the island of Grenada. The blood that flows through his veins is that of an Carib-Afro-English young man, and that alone makes him a stand out in the sport of Formula One racing. That he got to be where he is means that he is possessed of a talent that cannot be ignored. It took a quantum leap to go from the “A” of his heritage to the rarefied air that is the “Z” of Formula Racing. I think that, barring misfortune, this is the Tiger Woods of Formula Racing that we are seeing.
Michael Schumacher has left some very big shoes for someone else to step into. That person will have to be unlike anyone else in racing history. I think that Team McLaren
Mercedes recognize this and have chosen this young man as the Great Hope to take the sport to another level.
Certainly his background is truly impressive. He began karting at the age of eight, back in 1995, and immediately began showing that he was something special as he made winning look so easy. “He was born to the cockpit” was the most common expression heard around the track.
His progression came quickly. He entered the Cadet programme for 1995 and 1996; then in 1997 he moved on into the Junior Yamaha programme. Next came the Junior Intercontinental “A” trials in 1998 and 1999, which saw him confirmed into the full Intercontinental “A” list. The year 2000 saw him introduced into the heady world of Formula “A” racing.
As evidence of his ability to impress people who don’t impress easily, he became the youngest racer to proudly hold a Formula contract when he was only 13 years of age. He was not even legally able to contract on his own without the support of an adult.
The greatest recognition of all usually comes from within the industry. For Hamilton, to have been made a member by the British Racing Driver’s Club of “The Rising Star” group must have been particularly sweet and encouraging. Such accolades are not come by easily, and for the recipients they have profound meaning.
He began his professional racing career effectively in 2001 driving for Renault in the British Formula Renault Winter Series. He finished a respectful fifth overall, and that was encouraging enough for Formula Renault Team and Manor Motorsport to sign him for a full season’s racing card for 2002. He improved on 2001 by finishing the season with an overall third place position, including one outright win.
His 2003 year was great as he began to get comfortable. That year, he won the Formula Renault Series with ten wins and eleven starts at pole position.
He encountered a rough ride in 2004 as he advanced to the Formula 3 class and the Euroseries. He had bad luck in the Brands Hatch Season Finale when he crashed not just once, but in both races, which saw him spend time in hospital. His injuries, while not to be understated, were not life threatening, and he went on to make a complete recovery.
The year 2005 was a much better friend to him as he won 15 of the 20 card season, quite literally dominating the championship and giving a taste of things to come. This was his breakthrough year as he moved into the GP2 series and won in his debut year of running with the big boys. He achieved that, but not before winning the “Ultimate Masters of the Formula 3” challenge, as if an exclamation mark. There was no stopping him. He was on his way to F1 and he would immediately make his mark.
The McLaren Mercedes Vodafone announcement establishing Lewis Hamilton as Number 2 driver, second only to Fernando Alonso for the 2007 season, while met with joy and excitement, was also no surprise. Lewis had earned his place, and has his shot at super-stardom. He started out the season by distinguishing himself at the Australian Grand Prix. The race was between Kimi Raekkonen, driving for team Ferrari, and Fernando and Lewis.
Kimi won ahead of Alonso by a comfortable 7.2 seconds, but the real news from Albert Park was that for much of the race Hamilton was leading Alonso, and this was Hamilton’s debut F1 race. It’s a controversial practice, but in general, Team managements have been known to order their number two driver to allow number one to get ahead. There is no suggestion that perhaps that may have happened in this case, but it would not have been the first time for a number two to be reigned in.
Hamilton has a unique ability to overtake where others sensibly hold back. Perhaps it’s a matter of ice-cold nerves and superb timing. Champions are made of little extras like that. For Tiger Woods it’s the capability of absolute focus. Perhaps, for Lewis Hamilton it’s a fire in the belly and a hunger to be the very best racing driver of all time.
Everybody remembers the one and the only “I am the Greatest” Mohamed Ali. He said he was the greatest boxer of all time, and we believed him. Lewis Hamilton also seems determined to make believers of us all.
Watch this Space!
For the rest of us, please don’t overtake along two-way road systems. Save your life for those who love you!
Copyright (c) 2007 Eugene Carmichael
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