On This Day - Lewis Hamilton claims third on his debut

Formula 1 - On This Day

On This Day - Lewis Hamilton claims third on his debut

Starting a new series, GPFans reflects on a famous day in Formula 1 history

Ian Parkes

Wednesday 18 March 2020 14:03 Updated: 14:20

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Lewis Hamilton began his march to the six world titles he currently holds with a measured debut drive to third in the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park.

At the age of 22 - almost old by today's young standards for a debutant - Hamilton had qualified fourth the day previously in his McLaren-Mercedes, almost seven-tenths-of-a-second adrift of polesitter Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari, and a quarter-of-a-second down on team-mate Fernando Alonso.

In what was the first race of the post-Michael Schumacher era, following the seven-time champion's retirement at the end of 2006, Hamilton showed the class for which he has become renowned, and signalled his intent, by overtaking Alonso around the outside going through turn one.

Hamilton ultimately claimed third, behind Raikkonen and Alonso, becoming the first driver to finish on the podium on debut since Jacques Villeneuve was second in the 1996 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

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The race made further history as it was the first time since the obvious first grand prix in 1950 that three drivers had finished on the podium on debut for their teams.

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