Ron Dennis was an absolute genius when it came to spotting talent for his teams. Senna, Prost, Hakkinen, Raikkonen… the list goes on and on. But in 2006, Dennis had done it again. A young British driver from Hammersmith named Lewis Hamilton had done enough to convince Ron that he was worthy of a shot at McLaren. Here’s a throwback to one of Hamilton’s phenomenal overtakes from his GP2 days.
Lewis Hamilton passes two cars at once
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A certain section of fans is quick to dismiss Hamilton’s achievements in F1. People often cite the Briton’s car as a significant advantage in his triumphs in the sport. Yes, he’s never experienced driving for a midfield team but you cannot take away his accolades because of that. Hamilton’s racecraft and sheer driving talent are often wrongly overlooked.
A good car helps but without the right driver, you don’t win races. A testament to this statement can be found in Hamilton’s Gp2 and karting endeavours. Growing up, the Brit never had the privilege of competing with the best or most powerful karts in rookie events. Yet, he still managed to extract everything from whatever he had – displaying grit and determination along the way.
We’re throwing it back to this iconic moment on a certain someone’s #RoadToF1 🤩@LewisHamilton shows us how it’s done! 💪 pic.twitter.com/jEeQzyV1HJ
— Formula 2 (@FIA_F2) March 26, 2020
At the GP2 race in Britain in 2006, Hamilton pulled off a stunning move and overtook 2 cars at once. The Brit swooped past Nelson Piquet jr and Clivio Piccione at the historic Maggots and Becketts corner at Silverstone. The move was somewhat symbolic and was a sign of things to come.
Hamilton zoomed far ahead of his rivals, leaving them behind.
His GP2 skills earned him a drive at McLaren for his very first season in F1. Despite being a rookie and having an established teammate in Alonso, Hamilton took everyone by surprise. The Briton matched Alonso and finished a commendable second in the World Championship standings.
Fast forward to 2020 and Lewis Hamilton has cemented his legacy as one of F1’s greatest drivers. He’s cliched six World Championships and 84 victories and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. His next target is beating the great Michael Schumacher’s record of 7 titles and 91 victories.
You can love him or hate him, but you cannot deny the fact that Hamilton’s earned his achievements in F1.
