Lewis Hamilton

Source: Speak Up, edition 244 September 2007

Language Level: Basic

Standard: British accent

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren’s 22 years old Formula One driver, made an incredible impact on his debut at this year’s Australia Grand Prix: he overtook Alonso, the reigning world champion, at the first corner. He finished that race in third place, the first debutant to reach the podium since Jacques Villeneuve in 1996. He then broke all records by taking second place in his next four races and led the world championship. The only racing driver with a comparable record is the legendary Italian Giuseppe “Nino” Farina. Many believe Hamilton will become the greatest driver of all time.

THE OTHER TYPE OF RACE

Hamilton, who grew up in Tewin in Hertfordshire, England, is also the first black Grand Prix driver, but he doesn’t see that as relevant: “Being the first black man isn’t important to me personally, but it will introduce motor racing to a new audience”. He is often compared to golf champion Tiger Woods for his maturity and concentration, and there are similarities in their family backgrounds. Hamilton’s father, Anthony, has always encouraged and supported his son: he had three jobs to finance him in early days, and never missed a race.

AN EARLY START

Hamilton’s ability is not in question. He’s been a champion driver since the age of 10 and has won at every level of the sport from junior carting to the GP2 series. His father brought him his first go-cart at the age of six, and he was racing by his eighth birthday. Hamilton first met McLaren team boss Ron Dennis in 1994 when he was just nine years old. He told Dennis that one day he wanted to drive for McLaren. Four years later the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support Programme was set up, and Hamilton was one of the first to obtain financial and technical help. Today he says, “Racing in Formula One with McLaren was the ultimate goal for me. It’s a dream come true”.

One person remain unimpressed by Hamilton’s driving abilities: his (ex) girlfriend Jodi Ma reveals that, on a recent trip from Paris to London he got lost twice. Hamilton took seven hours to find his way home, and blamed the delay on his car’s navigation system.

Inspiration (no audio available)

Lewis Hamilton was inspired by Ayrton Senna, who died when Lewis was just nine years old: “He was my hero. I remember racing the weekend he died. My dad had a small Vauxhall Cavalier and a trailer at the back. We always sat in the Cavalier and waited for my turn to race. And that day my step-mum came and told us Senna had just died. It hit me hard – but I never liked to show emotion in front of my dad, so I went behind the trailer and cried. That was the turning point of my life – because when you’re so young, you believe people like Senna are invincible. And then you realize that they’re also mortal. I decided to make the most of my talent.