Sky is the limit for high-flyer Hamilton

In all the inevitable hoopla that surrounded Lewis Hamilton's dramatic World Championship success in one of the greatest showdowns in Formula One history at Interlagos on Sunday, when he became the 30th and youngest-ever title holder, there is one fascinating little statistic that demonstrates just how stratospheric his career can become. He might share with Jacques Villeneuve the distinction of winning the World Championship in only his second season, but he is the only man ever to miss a title by a single point and then win the next by the same margin in his first two seasons of competition. And he will only get better.

Compare that, for a moment, with some of the other giants of the game.

Stirling Moss, who was arguably the greatest driver never to win the title, finished only 31st and unclassified in the first two seasons in which he first appeared in Formula One, 1951 and 1952, though a fairer comparison, given his machinery and circumstances, would be 1954 and 1955, when he finished 13th and second driving a private Maserati and then a works Mercedes-Benz alongside the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio.

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Jim Clark was 10th in 1960 and seventh in 1962 for Lotus, before losing the 1962 and 1964 titles through mechanical failure in the deciding races and winning the crown in 1963 and 1965.

Jackie Stewart won a race in his debut season with BRM in 1965 and finished an impressive third overall, but fell to seventh in 1966 before narrowly losing out through injury in 1968 with Ken Tyrrell's team and then winning his three titles in 1969, 1971 and 1973.

Ayrton Senna burst into Formula One in 1984 and should have won the rain-spoilt Monaco Grand Prix in only his fourth appearance, but finished the season only ninth overall with Toleman, before climbing to fourth with Lotus in 1985.

It is Senna to whom Hamilton is most readily compared, partly because the Brazilian legend was his boyhood hero and partly because he eventually drove for McLaren and went on to win three world championship titles (in 1988, 1990 and 1991) and 41 grands prix prior to his death in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

In many ways Hamilton's uncompromising style is reminiscent of Senna's, with one crucial difference. Other drivers, notably Jarno Trulli, Mark Webber and Robert Kubica, have criticised his tactics recently, but that can largely be taken with a pinch of salt as the words of men who know he has sauntered into their domain and started to dominate. True, he does not give an inch, and some of his overtaking moves have taken lesser lights by surprise with their audacity, but he is not an intimidator in the way that Senna was, and his driving has never deliberately crossed the line between genius and aggression in the manner that Senna's did as his heart overruled his head in heated battles against rivals such as Alain Prost or Michele Alboreto. Certainly, Senna's tally of three titles is within reach. Possibly he will even go on to challenge Michael Schumacher's record of seven.

He dismissed such discussions, however. "I don't ever plan on trying to reach any of his records," he said of Schumacher. "It's not something that appeals to me. Records don't mean a huge amount to me. I love racing, I love getting in the car and winning championships. That's always been something I've loved doing, and the feeling you have after all that work from the people around you."

A year ago, Hamilton looked wrecked after losing the title by a single point and then spending the night drowning his sorrows. Yesterday, he was up bright and early with a spring in his step. He said he had drunk mostly water the previous evening, just enjoying watching the team party around him.

Fame and fortune await Hamilton, but he is content. "I'm comfortable in life," he said. "It's an amazing feeling to know that you've made some money, considering that I never had £100 to go and buy myself some trainers when I was younger. To think that we can do that now is great. But I would have done it for free. It just so happens that I get paid to do my hobby, the thing I love, and it's nice to be able to take care of my family. That's all that really matters."

While Hamilton shunned comparisons with Schumacher, Britain's previous champion, Damon Hill, believes the young Brit could take the German's record. "Maybe he will challenge Michael's tally. At 23 he is certainly young enough. Mind you, I think circumstances today are different so that may be more difficult. But if anyone can do it, Lewis can, and that will be the unfolding story with him, won't it?"

The truth is that Hamilton has demonstrated at different times these past two seasons all of the character traits that marked out men such as Moss, Clark, Stewart and Senna, and though he might have looked a little shaky on Sunday in Brazil, he now has that first crucial title under his belt. He is already widely regarded as the best man out there, with just two seasons behind him, and he will get stronger yet with more experience. The sky is the limit.

Along the way, he is going to be a brilliant role model. His success in Brazil on Sunday will inevitably spark a new wave of interest in motor sport in the UK, putting it right back on the sporting map. The Go Motorsport campaign, launched earlier this year by Hamilton on behalf of the national sporting authority, the Motor Sports Association, is already preparing for a huge surge of interest from people looking for roles in the sport.

It was set up to encourage and help new people to become involved by offering advice and guidance on how to get started – whether as a competitor, official, trackside marshal or volunteer. It also explodes the myth that participation in motor sport is for the wealthy only. Anthony Hamilton, the driver's father, said in Interlagos: "Hopefully, this will be an inspiration for other families and kids. When we started we had nothing, no money. But after a lot of hard work we are top of the world. It shows it can be done. Hard work, dedication, respect to your family, respect to all people. Fantastic."

Champion driven by promise of 'dream car'

Besides being Formula One's youngest-ever world champion, Lewis Hamilton could beat Tiger Woods to become the world's first billionaire sportsman after his success in Brazil on Sunday. But there is only one prize the young man from Stevenage has his eyes on – an orange McLaren F1 roadcar worth $8m (£5m).

Hamilton, believed to be earning around $19m through his Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes salary and product endorsements, is now on track to command the sort of $30m salary that Michael Schumacher enjoyed at Ferrari, and which his successor Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 champion, is currently paid. But it is expected that he can earn far more than that from deals with sponsors desperate to use his image.

What he wants, though, is two more Formula One titles and the car is his, the 23-year-old driver explained yesterday. The McLaren team principal, Ron Dennis, promised the Briton before he entered Formula One last year that he would give him the car, currently on display at the Woking factory, if he won three titles.

"I want to get this car off Ron," Hamilton said. "We made a deal, three world championships. It's a car that I've always wanted. I got a nice car book for Christmas years ago when I was about 10, and it had the orange McLaren F1 LM on the front. It was my dream car then. Then I got signed up by McLaren, I went to the factory and saw it and ever since I've gazed at it every time I walk past it," he added.

"Still today, it's the only car I ever really stop by, apart from Ayrton [Senna's] 1989 car. I stop by it and I always open it up and just smell it – carbon fresh, new. It's No 1 out of five and the most expensive and beautiful car in the whole world."

Hamilton and his father, Anthony, who manages his career, are thought to be considering listing the Hamilton brand on the London stock market.

A listing on the AIM market in London could, for example, sell a 10 per cent stake in Lewis Hamilton plc, for $100m. Investors would be paid a dividend equivalent to 10 per cent of Hamilton's total future earnings. In 2007 Hamilton moved to Switzerland. He is thought to have saved up to $40m in tax per year from the move.

The young pretenders

Robert Kubica

A former karting sparring partner of Hamilton's, the Pole has shown that he is a race winner and one tough cookie. Arguably, he also has fewer flaws than Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen or Massa. Believed to be the rival for whom Hamilton has the most respect.

Sebastian Vettel

The 'new Schuey' was highly rated when he came into Formula One as BMW Sauber's test driver in 2006, and he scored a point on his debut as Kubica's stand-in at Indianapolis in 2007. He has blossomed at Toro Rosso, winning the Italian GP this year.

Timo Glock

The German showed in his GP2 days in 2006 that he is a feisty racer who can go wheel-to-wheel with Hamilton. A strong qualifier and tough in race conditions, he has established himself well in his first year with Toyota.

Tonio Liuzzi

People forget his domination of F3000 in 2004, or his status as the only man to overtake Schumacher twice on the first lap during his F1 debut season with Red Bull in 2005. Wasted now as Force India's test driver.

Bruno Senna

Ayrton Senna's nephew will soon test for Honda and may replace Rubens Barrichello for 2009.