British F1 World Champions Part 2

Description

Founded in 1963 by New Zealander Bruce McLaren and originally known as Bruce McLaren Motor Racing limited, the Formula 1 team - titled currently as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes - is now competing in its 45th Formula 1 season after making its debut at the Monaco Grand Prix during 1966.

Here we take a look at the career highlights to date of the 2008 and 2009 British Formula 1 World Champions, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, who are currently racing for the team:       

Lewis Hamilton was born in Stevenage, Kent on 7th January 1985. After graduating from karting to single-seaters, Hamilton then rose through the ranks of Formula Renault, Formula Three Euroseries and the GP2 championship eventually earning his maiden Formula 1 test and a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes race seat for 2007.

His debut season was stunning and he appeared on the podium for his first nine races he ended 2nd in the Drivers' Championship by a single point. In 2008, aged just 23, Hamilton became the youngest World Champion in Formula 1's history. 

Jenson Button was born in Frome, Somerset on 19th January 1980. One of his first major racing achievements was taking first place in the Karting British Super Prix aged just nine.  His journey to Formula 1 saw him compete in the British Formula Ford and British Formula Three Championships.  

Button made his Formula 1 debut with Williams in 2000, and went on to drive for Benetton, later renamed Renault, BAR subsequently renamed Honda and then following a management buyout : Brawn.  

After a number of difficult seasons, his talent and tenacity paid off as he won six of his first seven races during the 2009 season and ultimately became a World Champion.

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