F1 Throwback: Lewis Hamilton Shows Fighting Spirit in Only His Second F1 Race

2007 was the year when Lewis Hamilton drove an F1 car for the first time. He was signed by McLaren to race along with the two-time and defending champion Fernando Alonso.

In the wake of completing on the podium in his first race, Lewis Hamilton proceeded to establish a few precedents as he wrapped runner-up in the 2007 World Drivers’ Championship to Kimi Räikkönen by one point. Including those for the most successive podium finishes from debut (9), the joint-most wins in a debut season (4) and the most points in an introduction season (109).

All through the season, Hamilton and Alonso were associated with various episodes which brought about pressures between the two drivers and the team. Alonso and McLaren ended their agreement by shared assent in November. Following a fruitful first season at McLaren, Hamilton marked a multi-million-pound agreement to remain with the group until 2012.

In his second race in Malaysia, Lewis Hamilton was showing a glimpse of a future champion.

2007 Malaysian Grand Prix

Massa set the fastest time, taking pole position from second-placed Alonso in the last few seconds as the rain began to fall. Räikkönen completed the top three. Massa’s lap marked tire company Bridgestone’s 100th pole position in Formula One. Lewis Hamilton came fourth, over half a second behind the leading three. He conceded inexperience was to blame, saying that there were “some spots of rain on my visor, so I had to sort of let off“.

Alonso began superior to polesitter Massa. He had the option to bring within line into turn one and addition the lead. Hamilton passed Räikkönen for third into the main corner, at that point drove around the outside of Massa into turn two to come in just for the second position.

Lewis Hamilton showing fighting spirit in his second race

Massa and Raikkonen began applying greater pressure to the rear of Hamilton’s car. While Hamilton was delaying the two Ferraris, Alonso was pulling away at the front. There was an exciting three-way battle happening for the second position. Massa and Kimi were trying to give a fight to Lewis Hamilton but it was not enough.

During the early laps, Massa seemed to have a quicker car than Lewis Hamilton. Again, he attempted to pass the McLaren on turn four. His first endeavor was on lap three. Yet Hamilton braked late and kept in front of Massa into the accompanying corner.

Massa attempted again at a similar spot on the following two laps. He passed Hamilton quickly into the turn on lap five, yet overshot the corner and ran wide onto the grass. He dropped to fifth, behind partner Räikkönen and BMW’s Nick Heidfeld. Although, Hamilton apologized after the race for ‘deceiving’ Massa into the move.

Alonso had the option to broaden his bit of advantage in the closing stages of the race. Räikkönen who was quicker on the hard tires. He was giving a hard time to Hamilton, who had the option to keep up the second spot behind Alonso. Räikkönen secured the third position. This was McLaren’s first win since the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix and the team’s first one-two since the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix

In addition, Räikkönen even admitted he “did not have enough speed on the straight line to try to challenge either [Hamilton or Alonso]“