Golden boy Lewis living his dream

By Jens Marx May 14, 2007, 11:15 GMT

(R) Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Ferrari and second British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton of McLaren Mercedes with handshake on the podium after Massa won the Grand Prix of Spain at the F1 race track Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday 13 May 2007. EPA/JENS BUETTNER

Barcelona - Even though it was Ferrari racer Felipe Massa who took the chequered flag in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, it was British rookie driver Lewis Hamilton who took most of the headlines and the accolades on Monday.

The Sun called him the 'King of Spain', while the Times said that: 'Hamilton completes short journey from young pretender to contender'.

On Sunday, Hamilton had taken second place in the race, thereby not only earning an unprecedented fourth podium finish in his fourth race, he also took the lead in the drivers' standings - becoming the youngest-ever driver to do so.

Lewis, who on Sunday was just 22 years and 126 days when he took the lead in the drivers' standings, said that he could not believe the things that were happening to him.

'It is fantastic. I am leading the standings after the race. Unbelievable. I am living my dream,' the McLaren-Mercedes driver said.

Showing just how strong a driver he is, Hamilton managed to edge defending champion and team-mate Fernando Alonso into third place in the race and take over the overall leadership mantle from the Spaniard, who admitted that Hamilton was a serious contender.

'He is a rival for the championship just like Kimi Raikkonen or Felipe Massa. Lewis was already a contender after just two races,' he said.

Hamilton leads the standings with 30 points from Alonso who has 28. Massa has 27, while Raikkonen is fourth with 22. Compared to the leader, who has just four Grand Prix races under his belt, the three challengers have the experience of 271 races.

For Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug Hamilton's success is somewhat of a surprise. 'If somebody had told me four races ago that he would lead the standings I would have described that as a bit far-fetched.'

Hamilton, who lives in London and as a youngster asked McLaren boss Ron Dennis for an autograph and a ride, is already driving like a seasoned veteran.

An important part of his race of his setup is his family, with father Anthony being at the race in Spain, as was his disabled brother Nicolas.

With his father shedding a few tears during the victory ceremony on Sunday, Hamilton acknowledged his family's importance afterwards, telling the press that: 'My family had worked so hard for many years.

His father used to hold down several jobs at once to finance his son's expensive hobby, but now it is payback time for Lewis, who is returning his father's confidence with success.

Hamilton is already being compared to German seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said that he is like a Schumacher copy. 'If you put Michael's helmet on him, you would think it is Michael.'

Schumacher too, has been singing Hamilton's praises. 'He is doing a very good job. He is well prepared and he is fast.'