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SAO PAULO, Brazil: A quick look at the 2008 Formula One champion:

Lewis Hamilton

BORN: Jan. 7, 1985, Stevenage, England.

F1 DEBUT: 2007 Australian GP with McLaren (finished third).

TEAMS: McLaren (2007-present).

GRAND PRIX: 35.

VICTORIES: 9.

POLE POSITIONS: 13.

PODIUMS: 22.

SEASON POINTS: 98 (207 total).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

2002: Graduates from karting to single-seaters, finishing third in the Formula Renault.

2003: Wins Formula Renault title with two rounds to spare. Ten race victories, nine fastest laps and 11 pole positions.

2004: Graduates to the Formula Three Euroseries. Finishes fifth overall, with one victory and two other podium finishes.

2005: Dominates the Formula Three Euroseries, taking the title with 15 wins, 10 fastest laps and 13 pole positions.

2006: Wins the GP2 championship at his first attempt, earning himself his maiden Formula One test.

2007: Makes his F1 debut driving for McLaren and wins four of the season's first 16 races and climbs to the podium in other eight, giving him a chance to become the first rookie to win the title and the youngest ever F1 champion. Title favorite until errors in final two rounds drop him to second place behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

2008: Wins five races and eight pole positions to arrive at the deciding Brazilian Grand Prix with a seven-point lead over Felipe Massa of Ferrari. Finished fifth after passing Timo Glock of Toyota on the final turn of the last lap to become F1's youngest champion at age 23. He is the first British champion since Damon Hill in 1996.