May 2007 and a new British F1 driver was beginning to earn himself some attention – one Lewis Hamilton.
In his debut season with McLaren, scoring a podium in his first race, going on to battle with team-mate Fernando Alonso for a title neither won in the end, by the start of May, it was clear that Hamilton was the sport’s next star. With that in mind, Autosport looked to his British predecessors, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill to give the new man some advice.
“The biggest thing that comes with the role is responsibility,” counselled Mansell. “A responsibility towards the public if they adopt you. It can put a lot on your shoulders.”
“Some of the expectation will be unreasonable and some of it will be pure encouragement and enthusiasm,” added Hill. “Don’t forget, Lewis never asked to be the saviour of British motorsport.”
As things turned out, Hamilton’s handled it all pretty well in the 18 years since, but you can still catch up with all of Hill and Mansell’s wise words here.
