He loses out on second place to McLaren team-mate and world champion Fernando Alonso only at the final pit stops.

Damon Hill, Britain's last world champion, in 1996, calls the drive "tremendous", adding: "He qualified well and raced brilliantly."

Hamilton goes one better in Malaysia, finishing second and next time out in Bahrain the 22-year-old creates history by becoming the first driver to finish on the podium in his first three races.