From an early age, Lewis Hamilton attracted attention as a potential F1 champion and he did not disappoint: he narrowly missed out on the championship by a single point in his maiden season in 2007 before securing it the following year, to become the youngest world champion in the sport's history.

Hamilton has always been in the enviable position of having a car capable of winning the championship, but in 2009 that all changed and it showed that not even he could take an under-performing car to the top of the podium.

Hamilton took his first steps towards F1 in 1993, aged eight, when he started karting at Rhye House Kart Circuit in his home county of Hertfordshire. By ten he was British Champion, on collecting his award at the Autosport Awards Ceremony the youngster approached McLaren team boss Ron Dennis, telling him, "I want to race for you one day." Dennis wrote in his autograph book that he should "give him a call in nine years". Less than three years later Dennis signed Hamilton to the McLaren Mercedes Young Driver Support Programme.

The funding enabled Hamilton to progress to single-seaters and the Formula Renault series in 2002, a championship he won the second year with two rounds remaining. In 2004 he moved up to the European Formula 3 series and again in his second year took a dominant win. He followed this up by winning the GP2 series at his first attempt in 2006.

After the departure of Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari and Juan Pablo Montoya to NASCAR, McLaren found themselves requiring two drivers. In November the news came that the racing fraternity had long been expecting - Hamilton would drive for McLaren in 2007 alongside Spaniard Fernando Alonso.

Although stunning, Hamilton's first season in Formula One was not without drama. He regularly outperformed reigning world champion Alonso, standing on the podium after each of the first nine races. He scored his first race win in Canada, and followed it up one week later with a win at the US Grand Prix. Leading the championship, Hamilton was now being billed to do the unthinkable - winning the world championship at his first attempt.

After a mixed second half to the season which saw heavy crashes and conflict with Alonso, the teams arrived in Brazil for the final race of the year. Hamilton was leading Alonso and Raikkonen by four and seven points respectively. He could have so easily taken the championship if it were not for a gear box issue mid-race - he missed out on the title by just one point.

With Alonso heading back to Renault for the 2008 season, harmony was restored at McLaren. His determination was fired once more and he took a string of wins, despite some errors including a huge practice crash in Bahrain and running into the back of the stationary Alonso at the end of the pit lane, but by Monaco he was back at the top of the drivers' standings.

Once more the season went to a final-race decider in Brazil - Hamilton arrived with a seven-point advantage, needing to finish in the top five to win the title. As rival Massa crossed the line to win the race, Hamilton was sixth prompting celebrations in the Ferrari camp. But moments later Hamilton put in a last-dash move on Timo Glock to finish fifth and take the title by a point.

If his first two seasons in F1 had been a dream for Hamilton the third could be seen as a nightmare, only managing to score nine points by the tenth round of the season. Aero changes to the underperforming McLaren for the German Grand Prix showed promise, and he took two wins and two podiums in the last half of the season, but only managed fifth in the standings.

Set to remain at McLaren till 2012, the 2010 season promises to be a challenge for Hamilton, as he lines up against reigning world champion and team-mate Jenson Button in the first pairing of British world champions since Graham Hill and Jim Clark at Lotus in 1968.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Hamilton's driving style has always ensured he stands out from the crowd, with the confidence to attempt overtaking manoeuvres not even considered by his rivals, and most of the time having the skill to pull them off. His preference for a car set up to over-steer shows off his lightning reactions. However, his desire to win every race can often backfire when he crashes out trying to gain a place rather than collecting the safe points.

Career High
Winning the world championship in 2008 after missing out by just one point in his debut season in 2007.

Career Low
Being disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix in 2009 after being found guilty of "misleading the stewards" over a yellow flag incident with Jarno Trulli.

Quotes
"I have no fear of death, so I don't think about it. I love the adrenalin kick that danger brings. Others get their kicks bungee jumping from tall buildings. I'm very, very competitive. I want to be the best at everything I do. It's not just driving - it's everything - it might be playing my guitar, I try to be the best at it as I possibly can."

"I have been connected with motor racing for 60 years now and he is certainly the best breath of fresh air we've had. It isn't just that he is a driver, he obviously can drive - he is a racer, he can see a gap and he's in it." Sir Stirling Moss

Trivia
Hamilton is the proud owner of three Blue Peter badges - he received his first aged six when he appeared on the programme to drive remote control cars, his second and third aged 12 and 16 for karting.

Claire Furnell November 2009

Hamilton was awarded an MBE by the Queen in the 2009 New Year Honors list