Editing Lewis Hamilton (section)

===Formula Renault and Formula Three===
Hamilton began his car racing career in the 2001 British Formula Renault Winter Series, finishing fifth in the standings.<ref name="hamiltonf1fbio"/> This led to a full [[2002 Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship|2002 Formula Renault UK]] campaign with [[Manor Motorsport]] in which he finished third overall, and fifth in the [[2002 Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup|Formula Renault Eurocup]] amidst only competing for four rounds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Formula Renault 2.0 UK 2002 standings |url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-renault-20-eurocup/2002/|website=driverdb.com |publisher=Driver Database |access-date=19 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706182659/https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-renault-20-eurocup/2002/|archive-date=6 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> He remained with Manor for [[2003 Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship|another year]] in Formula Renault UK, winning the championship in a dominant fashion ahead of [[Alex Lloyd (racing driver)|Alex Lloyd]], as he registered 10 wins from 15 races.<ref>{{cite web |title=Formula Renault 2.0 UK 2003 standings |url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-renault-20-uk/2003/ |website=driverdb.com |publisher=Driver Database |access-date=19 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220918222407/https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-renault-20-uk/2003/ |archive-date=18 September 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Having clinched the championship, Hamilton missed the last two races of the season to make his debut in the season finale of the [[British Formula 3 Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |title=British Formula 3 Championship 2003 standings |url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-3-britain/2003/ |website=driverdb.com |publisher=Driver Database |access-date=19 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223022300/https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-3-britain/2003/ |archive-date=23 December 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> In his first race he was forced out with a puncture,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=138456&FS=BF3|title=Brands Hatch round 23 race report|last=Thomas|first=Stella-Maria|author2=Waite, Lynne|date=10 October 2003|publisher=Motorsport.com|access-date=5 July 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014439/http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=138456&FS=BF3|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> and in the second he crashed out and was taken to hospital after a collision with teammate [[Tor Graves]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=138458&FS=BF3|title=Brands Hatch round 24 race report|last=Thomas|first=Stella-Maria|author2=Waite, Lynne|date=13 October 2003|publisher=Motorsport.com|access-date=5 July 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190701/http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=138458&FS=BF3|archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

Asked in 2002 about the prospect of becoming one of the youngest ever Formula One drivers, Hamilton replied that his goal was "not to be the youngest in Formula One" but rather "to be experienced and then show what I can do in Formula One".<ref name="CAR200207">{{cite magazine|title=The next big thing. The sky's the limit for British teenager Lewis Hamilton, whom McLaren is grooming for F1. And it's purely down to his talent|magazine=CAR Magazine|pages=146–149|date=July 2002}}</ref> He made his debut with Manor in the [[2004 Formula 3 Euro Series]], ending the year fifth in the championship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Formula 3 Euro Series 2004 standings|url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-3-euro-series/2004/|access-date=19 December 2018|website=driverdb.com|publisher=Driver Database|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200005/https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/formula-3-euro-series/2004/|archive-date=24 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> He also won the Bahrain F3 Superprix,<ref>{{cite news|title=1st Bahrain F3 Superprix 2004 Race|url=http://www.formula3.info/saison2004/bahrain/race2.htm|access-date=1 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710175034/http://www.formula3.info/saison2004/bahrain/race2.htm|archive-date=10 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and twice raced in the [[Macau Grand Prix|Macau F3 Grand Prix]].<ref>{{cite web|date=16 November 2003|title=Hamilton misses podium|url=http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/25310|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719130650/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/25310|archive-date=19 July 2018|access-date=1 December 2020|work=Autosport}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=21 November 2004|title=Macau: Bad day for the Brits|url=http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/40892|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721173156/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/40892|archive-date=21 July 2018|access-date=20 July 2018|work=Autosport}}</ref> Williams had come close to signing Hamilton but did not as [[BMW in Formula One|BMW]], their engine supplier at the time, refused to fund him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41844|title=Williams 'came close to Lewis deal'|date=2 March 2008|publisher=ITV-F1.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302135515/http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41844|archive-date=2 March 2008}}</ref> Hamilton eventually re-signed with McLaren. According to then McLaren executive and future CEO [[Martin Whitmarsh]], who was responsible for guiding Hamilton through the team's young driver programme, he and Anthony Hamilton had a "huge row" at the end of the season, with his father pushing for him to move up to GP2 for 2005, while Whitmarsh felt that he should remain in Formula 3 for a second season, culminating in Whitmarsh tearing up Hamilton's contract; however, Hamilton called Whitmarsh six weeks later and re-signed with the team.<ref name=benson />

Hamilton had his first Formula One test with McLaren in late 2004 at [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/f1/news/50828/1/new_mclaren_bad_news_for_wurz.html|title=New McLaren bad news for Wurz|publisher=crash.net|date=16 December 2004|access-date=17 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305085550/https://www.crash.net/f1/news/50828/1/new_mclaren_bad_news_for_wurz.html|archive-date=5 March 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> He moved to the reigning Euro Series champions, ASM for the [[2005 Formula 3 Euro Series|2005]] season and dominated the championship, winning 15 of the 20 rounds and bragging 13 pole positions.<ref name=hamiltonf1fbio/> He also won the [[Masters of Formula 3|Marlboro Masters of Formula 3]] at [[Circuit Park Zandvoort|Zandvoort]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lewis Hamilton portrait |url=http://f3euroseries.com/news_newsausgabe.php?id=977 |publisher=[[Formula 3 Euro Series]] |date=28 August 2005 |access-date=17 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206015911/http://www.f3euroseries.com/news_newsausgabe.php?id=977 |archive-date=6 December 2010 }}</ref> Following his success, British magazine ''[[Autosport]]'' featured him in their "Top 50 Drivers of 2005" issue, ranking Hamilton at 24th.<ref name="hamiltonf1fbio"/>