Lewis Hamilton: Humble beginnings to F1 hero status

Lewis Hamilton joined one of sport's most exclusive clubs when he became just the third driver to win a fifth Formula One world title.

His fourth-place finish at the Mexico Grand Prix on Sunday lifted him into the company of the sport's true greats, joining seven-time champion Michael Schumacher and fellow five-time winner Juan-Manuel Fangio -- who he describes as "The Godfather" -- in the F1 pantheon.

To have won more than men like Australia's Jack Brabham, fellow-Briton Jackie Stewart, Austrian Niki Lauda and Brazilians Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna as well as modern day rival Sebastian Vettel is a spectacular statement of achievement.

The son of a black father and a white mother, who survived a broken home in his youth, Hamilton, 33, grew up on a municipal housing estate in Stevenage where his father Anthony at one time held down three jobs to fund his son's embryonic racing career in karts.

His journey was unprivileged and without luxury, but it was clear from an early age that he had an outstanding gift for speed and all the gutsy natural instincts of a born racer.

In 1995, aged 10, and wearing a jacket and shoes borrowed from his predecessor as British Formula Cadet karting champion, he went to a glittering awards ceremony in London where he met McLaren's then-boss Ron Dennis.

He asked for an autograph and told him "one day I want to race for you".

Dennis replied: "Phone me in nine years and I'll sort you a deal."
- 'Mercurial, tempestuous' -
============================
He arrived in Austin this weekend with a record xx pole positions to his name and xx wins. His former McLaren team-mate Jenson Button summed up Hamilton's pure speed when he said: "For me, over one lap, I don't think there is anyone as quick as Lewis and I don't think there ever has been."
- 'Never satisfied' -
=====================
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff summed up: "He is never satisfied. He never settles. He is never happy with where he is as a racing driver and a human being. He wants to optimise, to develop and he is very much part of the leadership of the team."