Lewis Hamilton breaks 47-year F1 record in historic entrance

Lewis Hamilton rewrote the Formula 1 history books at the Circuit de Catalunya on this day in 2007, becoming the youngest-ever driver to lead the world championship standings at just 22 years, 4 months and 6 days old.

The McLaren rookie's second-place finish behind Felipe Massa's victorious Ferrari was enough to usurp team-mate Fernando Alonso at the summit.

It broke a record that had stood for 47 years since Bruce McLaren established the benchmark at 22 years, 5 months and 8 days in 1960.

Hamilton's remarkable start to his debut season had seen him finish on the podium in all four opening races. 

He secured third in Melbourne as Kimi Raikkonen took victory for Ferrari, before consecutive runner-up finishes in Malaysia, Bahrain and Spain, collecting 30 points from a possible 40.

The Briton's consistency proved decisive over Alonso, who suffered a costly excursion at Turn 1 whilst battling Massa for the lead in Barcelona. 

Despite being a two-time world champion, the Spaniard found himself trailing his inexperienced team-mate by two points in the standings - and the relationship would only turn more frosty as the season wore on.

Hamilton's precocious achievement would ultimately be a footnote in a season that saw him narrowly miss out on the title to Raikkonen by a single point.

However, it nevertheless it signalled the arrival of a generational talent who would go on to claim seven world championships, including his first the following year.

The record would remain intact for 19 years until Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, at 19 years, 7 months and 4 days, took over championship leadership following his victory at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, further lowering the benchmark by nearly three years.