As Lewis Hamilton celebrated his record-equalling seventh Formula One World Championship and yet more riches, it was a world away from his humble beginnings on a Stevenage council estate.
It is easy to forget, now that he has earned a fortune of some £250million and drawn level with Michael Schumacher’s title haul that many thought would stand the test of time, quite what a trailblazer the young Hamilton was.
Breaking down racial barriers during a prodigious career as a junior karter, he summoned the courage to seek out McLaren boss Ron Dennis.
Hamilton was aged just 10, and wearing a borrowed dinner jacket at a central London awards ceremony, when he asked Dennis if he could drive for him. Dennis wrote in the youngster’s autograph book: “Phone me in nine years, and we’ll sort something out then.”
Although Hamilton would claim his second and third championships in 2014 and 2015, Rosberg would become the only man to beat him over a meaningful season. And, perhaps fearing he may never be able to reach such lofty heights again, the German retired just days after his 2016 triumph, denying Hamilton the chance of revenge.
His vengeance would instead come against another German. Vettel had now ditched Red Bull for the allure of Ferrari. Their battle was billed as a mouth-watering cocktail of the two most decorated drivers of their generation going head-to-head – but it was Hamilton who had more ice in his glass.
With Rosberg’s replacement Valtteri Bottas no match for Hamilton, further glory has been inevitable, and just as in 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Briton, aged 35 – and 22 years after he signed for McLaren – was on Sunday crowned king of the world with three races to spare.
It means the man from Stevenage will end his career as the most successful driver Formula One has ever seen and the greatest British sportsperson of his generation.
