Seven magical Lewis Hamilton F1 moments

No one has scored more pole positions and won more races in Formula 1 than Lewis Hamilton.

The Brit has been active in the series for many years, showing season after season that he knows the tricks of the trade inside out. On the Briton's 39th birthday, we go back in time to look at his best moments.

1. A resounding debut

Hamilton made his F1 debut in 2007, stepping up to a seat at McLaren after a title-winning GP2 campaign. He was paired with two-time (and the reigning) World Champion Fernando Alonso, who joined from Renault.

During the opening race of the season, he immediately showed his experienced teammate that he was cut from the right racing cloth.

Hamilton started in fourth place but overtook the Spaniard on the outside at the first corner. From there, he stayed cool and scored a podium in his maiden F1 race.

2. The first win of many

In what was only his sixth F1 race, Hamilton secured in pole position after an extremely strong lap.

It was his first pole of his career and at the start of the race, he held off teammate Alonso and continued on his way to victory.

Even the four safety car periods Hamilton had to deal with did not spoil things as he won convincingly and his victory became the first of many.

3. Sublime in Singapore

'The perfect pole lap does not exist' is a statement made by several F1 drivers in recent years. But if one qualifying lap came close to perfection, it was Hamilton's final Q3 lap at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in 2018.

The Briton could not keep up with the Ferraris of rivals Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel in Q1 and Q2, but managed to make the most of the third part of qualifying.

Hamilton utilized every millimetre of the street circuit and qualified three-tenths clear of title rival Vettel.

"It felt like the most complete lap I ever drove," the Mercedes driver told F1TV.

4. Magic in Monaco

In the spring of 2019, the F1 circus touched down in Monaco. Hamilton claimed pole position in the principality and started the race relatively carefree. That changed when Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc eliminated himself and the Safety Car entered the track.

Hamilton's Mercedes team made a strategic error that forced the Briton to hold on for dozens of laps on the Medium tyre, while feeling the pressure of of Max Verstappen - who was driving on new rubber - on his neck.

"I don't know what you were thinking when you gave me these tyres man," he said over the radio.

Hamilton did not succumb to the pressure, however, and beat off any overtaking attempts by the Dutchman. On worn Pirellis, the eventually crossed the finish line in first.

5. Dominant in Germany

On July 24, 2011, Hamilton and his fellow competitors raced at the Nurburgring in Germany. The Briton started qualifying second and was more than a second faster than teammate Jenson Button over one lap.

Hamilton grabbed the lead at the first corner, but throughout the race had to defend tooth and nail against Red Bull's Mark Webber.

He did so convincingly, and in an underperforming McLaren he won - right in the land of championship leader Sebastian Vettel.

6. Austria 2020: bossing everyone

The qualifying session for the Styrian Grand Prix was plagued by heavy rain. At a totally washed-out Red Bull Ring, Hamilton and Verstappen battled each other for the first starting position.

For a long time they were evenly matched, but on the last lap Hamilton showed that he couldn't be matched.

In bizarre conditions he clocked a time of 1.19.273; more than a second faster than Verstappen.

7. Home debut

During his home race in 2008, Hamilton qualified in fourth. On Sunday, however, the man from Stevenage quickly managed to turn the tide.

At the start on a wet tack, he drove from spot four to second and on just the fifth race lap he overtook teammate Heikki Kovalainen for the lead. From there, Hamilton showed insane speed as he was averaging five seconds per lap faster than some competitors and lapped everyone up to fourth.

The British driver finished 68 seconds clear of Nick Heidfeld, who crossed the finish line in second.