Lewis Hamitlon and Formula 1

He used to watch formula 1 since he was 6, his father bought him a go-cart a year later, and by 8 he was already racing."He was eight years old," says Martin Hines, whose kart manufacturing company, Zipkart, is based round the corner from the Rye House track. "I would go round there just to watch the kart racing. If you are a novice racer you have to wear a black number plate for your first six races. Normally, that means all the novices are at the back of the grid because they don't have enough experience to get through the field. But one day I saw Lewis Hamilton, with his black plate, and he was battling it out at the front. Someone off the street wouldn't have noticed the difference. But I knew straight away. He stuck out as something a bit special." Hines introduced himself to Lewis and to his father, Anthony, at the end of the session. He offered to supply the boy with kart chassis. "It's usually the case in motor sport that you can only go as fast as the amount of money you have. The Hamiltons weren't rich. I wanted to help." In return he had a five-year association with a youngster who was bright, willing to learn and, above all, talented. "An exceptional kid from an exceptional family." "He stood out at school, and not just because he was winning all these karting trophies. He was popular, he was composed when it came to speaking in public, and he was focused, exceptionally so for someone so young," recalls John Seal, who was Hamilton's headmaster at junior school in Stevenage. "More than anything, I remember just how much support he got from his father. They were just an ordinary family from a hard-working background. That's why it's so good to see that things have turned out the way they have." The focus and the seriousness he exhibits are phenomenal, and come as no surprise, as his brother Nick is suffering from cerebral Palsy. After he had aced in the Karting world, he introduced himself to McLaren's chairman, Ron Dennis, at an awards dinner, aged nine, with the promise: "I'll be working for you one day". Dennis, recognising a gutsy kid when he sees one, takes notes and comes back three years later to sign him up.

In 2001 he graduated from karts to cars. In 2003 he was crowned British Formula Renault champion, with 10 wins. Two years later he was victorious in the 2005 F3 Euroseries Championship with ASM F3 Dallara-Mercedes. Last year, he dominated the GP2 series. And so to a remarkable 2007.Ron Dennis would be basking in the glory of introducing a Rookie like Lewis Hamilton. Anthony Hamilton must be glowing with pride at his son's achievement, knowing in his heart the important role he had to play in his son's rise. I hope Lewis Hamilton has a remarkable and unparalleled future.