In just four seasons of Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton has packed in more success and drama than most drivers manage in a whole career.
From stunning F1 by nearly winning the title as a rookie, through his last-gasp second-year championship success, to the desperate struggles of 2009 and then his 2010 renaissance, Hamilton has been both the biggest story of recent F1 seasons, and marked himself out as probably the finest driver of the era.
Hamilton is still prone to throwing results away when his ambition and aggression exceeds what is practically possible.
But it’s that pure racing spirit that will make him a legend to generations to come, and that will drive him to plenty more success in the long F1 career he surely still has ahead of him.
F1 career log
Many expected that Hamilton would quietly learn his craft alongside his world champion McLaren team-mate Alonso in his 2007 rookie year, but a spectacular first-corner pass of the Spaniard on Lewis’s debut in Australia hinted at the rivalry that was to come.
Back-to-back wins in Canada and America thrust Hamilton into a shock mid-season championship lead, and ignited a bitter feud with Alonso, who felt the team was favouring its long-time protégé.
The eruption of the ‘spygate’ scandal between McLaren and Ferrari added a further level of tension.
Hamilton had been a paragon of consistency early on – beginning his F1 career with a staggering nine straight podiums – but he stumbled when it really mattered in the final rounds, sliding embarrassingly into the pit lane gravel in China and then enduring a catalogue of disasters in the Interlagos decider.
All that allowed Kimi Raikkonen to steal the title from him, and Hamilton vowed to come back stronger and wiser in 2008.
It took time for McLaren’s title challenge to get going, but helped by sublime wet-weather wins in Monaco and Britain and an imperious charge from behind at Hockenheim, Hamilton went into the deciding races at the head of the championship.
A headstrong performance at Fuji nearly squandered his lead again, but Hamilton steadied his nerves by dominating in China, and then wrapped up the title in the most dramatic fashion amid the rain and eleventh-hour shocks of Brazil.
Felipe Massa’s crew were already celebrating what they thought was a championship victory when Hamilton passed Timo Glock on the very last corner of the last lap of the season and snatched the title away from the Brazilian.
Hamilton soon realised he had little chance of defending his title with 2009’s troubled McLaren MP4-24, but to his huge credit, he fought for 15th place every bit as hard as he had battled for wins.
And when McLaren’s incredible development efforts bore fruit, Hamilton was there to capitalise with two great wins.
The team was back in title contention last season, but ultimately just not quite quick enough to stay ahead of Red Bull and Ferrari to the end, despite Hamilton and team-mate Jenson Button’s tenacious efforts.
Formative years
McLaren had nurtured Hamilton since his sensational karting career, having first been alerted to him when 10-year-old karting star Lewis boldly introduced himself to future boss Ron Dennis at the Autosport Awards by declaring that he would one day be driving for his team!
With McLaren’s support, Hamilton won the Formula Renault UK and Formula 3 Euro Series titles, in each case winning races in his rookie seasons and then blitzing all rivals in his second year – triumphing 15 times on the way to his F3 crown.
But he didn’t even bother to have a learning season when he joined the GP2 field in 2006.
Hamilton took five wins and overcame title rival Nelson Piquet Jnr to win the championship at his first attempt.
It was the fiery spirit that he displayed on the way to victory that really wowed the F1 paddock, with some epic charges through the field proving that Hamilton had that special extra ingredient that separates the truly great drivers from those who are merely quick, and convincing McLaren that he was ready for the big time.
Strengths: Huge natural talent, never-say-die racing spirit, great car control and wet weather skills, and a team built around him.
Weaknesses: Still prone to errors or hot-headedness at crucial moments.
Most likely to: Pull off a heart-stopping overtaking move.
Career highlight: Fighting for the title as an F1 novice in 2007; clinching it in such dramatic style in 2008.
Lowest ebb: Throwing away the chance to make history by claiming the title at the first attempt in 2007; having to make a public apology for lying to the officials in Melbourne in 2009.
Goals for 2011: Win a second world championship.