Lewis Hamilton Profile

Arriving on the scene in a blaze of glory, much was expected of Lewis Hamilton but in recent years the 2008 Champ has failed to deliver…

Arriving on the scene in a blaze of glory, much was expected of Lewis Hamilton but in recent years the 2008 Champ has failed to deliver.

Joining McLaren as a rookie driver, Hamilton immediately made a name for himself with a run of nine podium finishes, including wins in Canada and the USA, to kick start his career. But despite that – and partly because of in-fighting with team-mate Fernando Alonso – he had to settle for second in the Championship. He lost by one point.

The following season he made amends and won the crown, beating Felipe Massa to the title. And by one point.

From there on, though, it went downhill.

Hamilton and McLaren failed to reach those heights again as Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel came to the fore. Their lack of success – coupled with off-track issues for Hamilton – resulted in the Brit parting ways with the team and heading to Mercedes.

His first season in Brackley, 2013, was billed as a stepping stone towards success with just one victory, Hungary, and a fourth place in the Championship.

This season, both the driver and team want the title.