Lewis Hamilton’s expertise in motorsport was made extremely obvious earlier than he had stepped into Components 1 in 2007.
Ron Dennis would have the ability to attest to this when a then-10-year-old Hamilton informed the McLaren boss that he could be driving considered one of his vehicles sooner or later. 12 years later, he could be doing precisely that, however not earlier than racking up quite a few junior skills.
Commercial
He gained the Components Renault 2.0 UK Championship in 2003, earlier than profitable the Components 3 Euro Sequence and the Masters of Components 3 in 2005.
In 2006, he moved as much as GP2, the subsequent step beneath F1, with ART Grand Prix. He could be working alongside Fred Vasseur, a person he would get to know very carefully over time.
Picture by Darren Heath/Getty Photographs
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur knew Lewis Hamilton was ‘magic’ in his GP2 days
As Vasseur described on the , Hamilton initially struggled to adapt. Nevertheless, he quickly began to search out his toes and excelled in GP2, profitable the 2006 championship.
With 5 wins, seven quickest laps and 14 podiums in 21 races, Hamilton displayed outstanding expertise. At one specific race in Turkey, he climbed his approach from nineteenth within the discipline to complete P2.
Commercial
Proven an image from that race, Vasseur detailed how Hamilton was ‘magic’ through the 2006 season: “This 12 months was for positive by way of outcomes, mega, however was additionally a superb lesson as a result of he struggled initially.
“There was an enormous step between F3 and F2 with not so many check days and the primary races have been troublesome for Lewis. Valencia, he had a port begin, then Imola, he overtook the protection automobile.
“After which he began to win and he had an excellent restoration, gained the championship in Monza. However it was a superb lesson as a result of he struggled slightly bit initially and he was magic on the finish.”
READ MORE:
Commercial
Lewis Hamilton and Fred Vasseur’s reunion has not gone to plan at Ferrari
Hamilton moved as much as F1 in 2007 with McLaren, profitable his maiden title in 2008. He made the change to Mercedes in 2013 and went on to win six extra championships and turn out to be probably the most profitable driver of all time.
In the meantime, Vasseur didn’t come to F1 till 2016 with Renault, and a 12 months later, he discovered himself at Sauber, later Alfa Romeo. The Frenchman joined Ferrari in 2023 and took them to inside 14 factors of profitable the constructors’ championship in 2024.
Vasseur signed Hamilton in 2025, anticipating it to be a partnership that wins Ferrari their first title since 2007. Nevertheless, the 41-year-old failed to attain a podium and completed seventh within the standings.
The season was so irritating that Hamilton even mentioned he must be changed halfway via. He will likely be determined to see enhancements in 2026.
