Lewis Hamilton: from go-kart champion to formula one champion

1996: Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the Champion of the Future title with McLaren Mercedes team boss Ron Dennis Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images

1997: Hamilton as a 12-year-old go-kart champion Photograph: Richard Saker

2006: Hamilton celebrates finishing in second place to win the GP2 Series championship at Monza Photograph: Press Association

2007: Hamilton poses with McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso for the media during the launch of the McLaren Mercedes car for his first season Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty

2007: Hamilton practices ahead of qualifying for the Australian grand prix , his first in the sport Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty

2007: Hamilton celebrates with his father Anthony Hamilton following his second place in the Malaysian formula one grand prix Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty

2007: He celebrates winning his first formula one grand prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty

2007: Hamilton retires early from the Chinese grand prix after tyre trouble Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty

2007: Hamilton runs wide off the track during the Brazilian grand prix, the last of the season Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty

2008: Spanish formula one fans, wearing wigs and with blacked-up faces, racially abuse Lewis Hamilton during testing at the Circuit de Catalunya Photograph: Joanne Burnett /Getty

2008: Hamilton poses with rock band Kiss before the start of the start of this year's formula one season. Members of Kiss are, from left, Tommy Thayer, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Eric Singer Photograph: Craig Borrow/AP

2008: Hamilton celebrates victory in the Monaco grand prix at the Monte Carlo Circuit Photograph: Clive Mason /Getty

2008: Hamilton celebrates his championship win with his father Anthony and McLaren team principal Ron Dennis in the team garage Photograph: Roland Weirauch/EPA

2008: Hamilton celebrations at Interlagos continue Photograph: Rui Vieira /Press Association