Career Stats Team McLaren Nationality British Podiums 12 Points 109 Grand Prix entered 17 World Championships 0 Wins 4 Pole Positions 6 Date of Birth 07/01/1985 Place of Birth Tewin

From up-and-coming talent to a worldwide sporting superstar in the space of 12 months – the start to Lewis Hamilton's F1 career has been nothing short of sensational.

Four race victories, six pole positions and 12 podium finishes were the headline statistics from a rookie season that shattered all previous benchmarks.

The impact of British motorsport's new hero spread well beyond the paddock, creating a huge upsurge of public and media interest in F1 in the UK.

And but for a combination of team and driver mistakes in the season's final two races he would have ended the nation's 11-year wait for another world champion.

Lewis has drawn a line under that disappointment, however, and says he heads into year two fitter, wiser and even more determined.

And that's a warning that should be taken seriously, as behind his affable and polite demeanour hides a steely ambition to win.

That he was not afraid to challenge his two-time world champion team-mate Fernando Alonso in 2007 speaks volumes for his inner confidence.

As did his regular displays of swashbuckling audacity in which he demonstrated his other-worldly feel and car control.

He's only likely to get better in 2008.

The early years

Lewis Hamilton's debut F1 season was in keeping with a stratospheric rise through the motorsport ranks.

McLaren spotted the Tewin-born youngster's potential early in his six-year karting career, which included world and European titles.

Although a 10-year-old Lewis had already introduced himself to future boss Ron Dennis when he told him at the Autosport Awards that he would one day be driving for his team!

Dennis followed his progress and signed him to McLaren in 1995, with the team and Mercedes' support helping him to progress through British Formula Renault and the Formula 3 Euroseries.

In both categories Hamilton was a race winner in his first season, and then utterly blitzed all rivals in his second year – triumphing 15 times on the way to his F3 title.

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 Jr 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.

Whenever the reverse grid format or Hamilton's own mistakes put him down the order, spectators knew that they were in for a treat.

His drive from last to second in Istanbul and a breathtaking three-abreast pass into Silverstone's ultra-fast Becketts complex proved that Hamilton had that special extra ingredient that separates the truly great drivers from those who are merely quick.

After wrapping up the GP2 title at Monza, he was immediately handed a first F1 test by McLaren at Silverstone.

A further test at Jerez followed and Lewis was soon confirmed as McLaren's first rookie driver in over a decade.

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