LEWIS HAMILTON JOINS FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION FERNANDO ALONSO
AT VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
 Long-term
McLaren and Mercedes-Benz protégé Lewis Hamilton
has been confirmed as a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racing driver
and will make his debut at the opening round of the 2007 Formula
1 World Championship in Australia. 21-year-old Lewis will
join World Champion Fernando Alonso racing the Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes MP4-22 during the 2007 season with both Pedro de
la Rosa and Gary Paffett continuing as test drivers.
The 2006 GP2 Champion, who also dominated the 2005 F3 Euro
Series in a Dallara Mercedes winning 15 out of 20 races, will
recommence his testing programme and the team’s preparations
for the 2007 season next week at the Circuit de Catalunya,
Barcelona.
"It's a dream come true," said Lewis. "To
be racing in Formula 1 with McLaren has been the ultimate
goal for me since I was very young and this opportunity is
a fantastic way to end what has been the best year for me.
I have grown up with McLaren and Mercedes and wouldn't be
where I am today without their continued support and guidance.
However I'm aware that this will be a challenge and I know
that there will be a lot of attention on me. However the team
has told me just to relax, do the best I can and enjoy the
opportunity. I will work hard to get good results."
Pedro de la Rosa will revert to his role as test driver for
the team. Pedro has been racing for Team McLaren Mercedes
since the 2006 French Grand Prix in July and achieved a number
of points-scoring performances as well as a podium finish
at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
"I have really enjoyed the opportunity to race for Team
McLaren Mercedes for the last eight races of the 2006 season,"
commented Pedro. "However I have always been aware that
the team might decide to give another driver the same opportunity,
so the fact that Lewis will be in the car comes as no surprise.
Obviously I would have preferred to race myself but also understand
why the team has decided to put Lewis in the car. I wish him
all the best and look forward to continue working with him."
Gary Paffett will continue in his role with the team working
on the test and engineering programme alongside Lewis, Fernando
and Pedro.
“I am delighted to be remaining with the team, it is
a fantastic racing organisation and I am looking forward to
working with my fellow teammates on our 2007 Championship
challenge," said Gary Paffett. "As with any driver,
there is always a desire to be racing in Formula 1, however
this was not possible. We had a number of other opportunities
available and have decided that this was the strongest option.
I would like to congratulate Lewis on today’s announcement.”
"Since 1998 Lewis has formed an important part of our
long-term strategy and we are pleased that we are able to
help him take another step and achieve his dream of becoming
a Formula 1 racing driver," said Ron Dennis, Chairman
and CEO, McLaren Group. "Pedro has done an outstanding
job for us this season but we felt it was the right time to
provide Lewis with this opportunity. It's obviously going
to be the biggest challenge of Lewis's career so far but it's
one that we are sure he will be able to meet. He is coming
into the paddock for the first time as a Formula 1 racing
driver and will have to familiarise himself with the pressures
of a Grand Prix weekend. However the confidence we have in
Lewis's abilities and talent is clear from our decision to
give him the chance."
Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport commented
how "Lewis is a gifted driver who proved his talent with
two consecutive title wins - 2005 in the Formula 3 Euro Series
in a Dallara Mercedes and this year in the GP2 Series. McLaren
and Mercedes-Benz have supported Lewis already for nine years.
He was half as tall as he is today when he started in karting.
It's clear that Lewis has less experience in comparison to
the other 21 Formula 1 drivers in Grand Prix cars. However
extensive tests during the coming months will prepare him
for his first season - I am very glad that a guy like him
gets his deserved chance."
Lewis has been involved with the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz
Young Driver Support Programme since its inception in 1998.
He moved through the ranks of karting winning various Championships
including the 'McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future' karting
series in 1998. Lewis dominated the 2003 British Formula Renault
Championship winning 10 out of the Championship's 15 races.
In 2004 Lewis competed in the prominent Formula 3 Euro series
with Manor Motorsport, powered by Mercedes-Benz engines. In
2005, Lewis dominated the F3 Euro Series Championship, in
a car powered by Mercedes-Benz. On 8th September 2006 Lewis
won the GP2 Series Championship with the ART team at Monza
in Italy, winning five out of 22 rounds, and on Wednesday
13th September Lewis tested the Team McLaren Mercedes Formula
1 car for the first time at the Silverstone circuit in the
UK.
LEWIS HAMILTON BIOGRAPHY
LEWIS HAMILTON
Nationality: British
Date of Birth: 07/01/1985
Place of Birth: Stevenage, UK
Marital Status: Single
Height: 1.74m
Weight: 68kg
Resident: Tewin, UK
Favourite Music: R & B, Reggae, Hip-Hop, and funky house;
Hobbies: Playing the guitar, music, training
Website: www.lewishamilton.com FORMULA ONE 2007 Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes: Driver
COMPETITION HISTORY
2006 GP2 Series: Champion with ART Grand Prix; five wins;
six
fastest laps; first double win at the Nürburgring; pole
position and winner of Monaco GP2 race; second double win
at
Silverstone in home race; seven 2nd place and two 3rd place
podiums.
2005 F3 Euroseries: Champion with ASM F3 Dallara-Mercedes;
15 wins;
10 fastest laps; 13 pole positions; secured championship with
four races remaining; winner of F3 Masters at Zandvoort
including pole position and lap record; winner of the Monaco
F3
Grand Prix including two pole positions and two race wins
and
one fastest lap; winner of Pau F3 Grand Prix in France; two
pole positions, two race wins and two fastest laps.
2004 F3 Euroseries: fifth; one win and third place at the
Norisring;
third at the Nürburgring; winner of Bahrain F3 Superprix.
2003 British Formula Renault: Champion; 10 wins; nine fastest
laps
and 11 pole positions; Champion before final two rounds.
2002 British Formula Renault: third; three wins; three fastest
laps;
three pole positions; Formula Renault EuroCup Championship
fifth; one win three podiums; competed in four out of nine
rounds.
2001 British Formula Renault Winter Series: fifth overall.
2000 Formula A: European Champion; winner of all four rounds;
World
Cup Champion; awarded Karting World Number 1; winner of Masters
at Bercy; Founder member of BRDC ‘Rising Star’
membership.
1999 Intercontinental A (ICA): Italian "Industrials"
Champion,
Junior ICA (JICA): Vice European Champion; winner Trophy de
Pomposa, 4th Italian Open Championship.
1998 Junior ICA (JICA): second in McLaren Mercedes Champions
of the
Future series; fourth in Italian Open Championship; signed
by
McLaren and Mercedes-Benz to Young Driver Support Programme.
1997 Junior Yamaha: Super One British Champion; winner of
McLaren
Mercedes Champions of the Future series.
1996 Cadet Class: winner of McLaren Mercedes Champions of
the Future
series; Sky TV Kart Masters Champion; Five Nations Champion.
1995 Cadet Class: Super One British Champion; STP Champion
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