Schuetz

The name of the man? Lewis Hamilton The sport? Formula 1 Grand Prix Motor Racing. The luck? To start his career in the best car in the sport?

The 2007 Formula 1 World Championship started with a few names on peoples' lips. There was Michael Schumacher, the 8 time World Champion, who was no longer in the sport - how would it be after his retirement?

Then there was Fernando Alonso, the latest young gun, already twice World Champion, but starting with a new team this year, McClaren.

Another name was Lewis Hamilton, a 21 year old British driver who had made waves in the lower levels of racing, but was now thrust into the full force of the Formula 1 circus.

Well, Alonso seems to have made a wise choice to switch to McClaren, as they seem to have a car which might give a lot of wins, for the first year in many. Who is the other driver for McClaren? Yep, you guessed it, Lewis Hamilton, and after getting on the podium in the first 3 races, his name is now right at the front of the list.

No driver had ever got in the top 3 for his first 3 races - Schumacher didn't, Alonso didn't, Ayrton Senna didn't.

That must make Hamilton sensational, right? Er, well yes and no.

He is no overnight revelation, he has been with the McClaren team for 9 years, but most Formula 1 Drivers would give their right arm to be in the car that he is - talk about in the right place at the right time! Plus he has Alonso as his co-driver, the current World Champion with all the expectation and attitude of success that comes with it.

Let's measure his story with the previous young gun of British talent, Jenson Button. Everyone expected high things of Button, but ever since his first race he has been with teams in development, never in a team at its' peak, and in a sport which is so dominated by the technology of the cars, his racing talent has been somewhat lost, and he seems destined to be a journeyman driver as far as results go.

There is no doubting that Hamilton has natural talent, and there can also be no doubt that over many years he has given huge dedication to his goal. In my view, to those who say he is the luckiest man in sport, I say it's a classic example of making your own luck!

Gordon Bryan is the author of 'Make Money From Sport,' a guide where he takes you through the single technique he uses again and again to profit from any sport! Find out more at: http://www.gordonbryan.com/sport