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Name: Lewis Hamilton
Birthday: January 7, 1985
Team: McLaren
Country: England
Podiums: 13
F1 Titles: 0  

In 2006 Lewis Hamilton stunned onlookers with a string of spectacular performances in GP2. Outshining his more-experienced team mate Alexandre Premat and a resurgent Nelson Piquet Jr with his bold driving style, he won the title and, perhaps more importantly, the Formula One paddock’s admiration.

In late 2006 the McLaren team - shy of a second driver to pair up with incoming champion Fernando Alonso for the 2007 season - decided to see how their protege would cope in a Formula One car. They were not disappointed and rewarded Hamilton’s impressive testing times and mature approach with a race seat.

It was an out-of-character move for a traditionally conservative squad, but one which quickly paid dividends for team and driver alike. Hamilton won four Grands Prix in his debut season and led the championship for much of the year, developing an intense rivalry with Alonso both on and off the circuit. Only a mixture of bad luck and inexperience in the final two rounds deprived him of the title. It was an opportunity missed, but one which, given Hamilton’s huge talent, is almost certain to come his way again.