Lewis Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut at the 2007 Australian Grand Prix, driving for McLaren. He was 22 years old, arriving in the sport as one of the most hyped rookies in decades — and somehow still exceeding expectations.
Hamilton scored a podium in his very first race, went on a nine-race podium streak to open his rookie season, and came within a single point of winning the World Championship that same year. By 2008, he sealed the deal in dramatic fashion at Interlagos, becoming the sport’s youngest-ever world champion at the time.
