The $180K Advantage That “Gentleman” Lewis Hamilton Had Over His Karting Competitors to Climb Up the F1 Ladder

Starting out in karting and reaching all the way to F1 is not a cakewalk. While skills on the track matter a lot, strong financial backing is as important, if not more. Lewis Hamilton did not come from a wealthy family and his father had to engage himself in multiple jobs to keep his son’s dream afloat. However, there came a time when he did not have to worry about it anymore as Ron Dennis, the man himself, stepped in. That is one of the two reasons why Hamilton made it to the pinnacle of motorsport while the boys who beat him on the track in younger days could not.

In his autobiography, ‘Lewis Hamilton: My Story’, the Briton recalled the time his father, Anthony, got a call from Dennis. The former McLaren CEO offered to sponsor his career, and that caught young Lewis by surprise. He recalled that he did not know how to express his feelings and ended up going to his room to do his homework.

Chris Rogers raced alongside Lewis at Rye House Kart Raceway in Hertfordshire. In 1995, he won the British cadet karting championship while Rogers beat him the next year. Coming to the reason why Chris could not reach the highest level in an interview with The Times, he revealed, “I probably needed £150,000 [$180,524] a year. [But] I went in with £30,000 [$36,104].”

Meanwhile, Lewis had roped in Dennis as his sponsor after the ’95 championship victory.

Before the future F1 star won the karting championship, Mike Spencer had won the accolade twice. He accords Hamilton’s future success to his charming personality. He told, “Basically you have to be a bit of an animal out on the track and then an absolute gentleman when you’re not.”

Read More: “Overhated and Underrated”: Unlikely Plaudits for Lance Stroll as the F1 World Salutes His Bahrain Heroics

Spencer feels he lacks that switch that needs him to turn polite, even when he does not feel a certain way.

When Lewis Hamilton’s babysitter spoke against his claims on Stevenage

Hamilton has never shied away from speaking about his childhood, a time when money was not easy to come by. He has often described his childhood neighborhood, Stevenage, as a place where people of humble means live. However, he once described the place as “slums” and that did not go down well with the residents. While his then-babysitter refused to speak on the controversy, he revealed what a happy childhood the future F1 champion had.

In an interview with MailOnline, Bruce Harris said, “He was good as gold to look after and I can never remember him crying. He wasn’t a fussy boy either and he’d eat anything you put in front of him and always seemed happy.”

Watch This Story: Lewis Hamilton Showing off His Black Boiler Suit as He Strolls Through Paris

Even the resident of his former home rubbished his claims about the area. He revealed how the neighborhood is one of the most sought-after areas and has all the amenities one needs.