The Silver War[Complete]

The Karting Stage

At the wheel of a Baby-Kart, in the roads around his villa in the south of France, Nico Rosberg became familiar with driving a kart. When he was only five years old, he was ready to get behind the wheel to complete laps, under the eye of his father Kéké Rosberg. Nico had to wait until the age of 10 to start competing in France in the Minime category. In 1997, he won the famous Jérôme Bernard Trophy and the French Trophy, before climbing on to the 2nd step of the podium of the Manufacturers Trophy and the Côte d'Azur Regional Championship.

He then had two excellent Junior seasons in 1998 and 1999, with a title of Italian Vice Champion and a 4th place in the CIK-FIA European Championship. He was Ready To step up in the formula A championship at 2000

On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton started his karting career at 1993 when he was only 8. Right from his first race the trainee Driver particularly impressed Martin Hines, former triple World Superkart Champion (250cc) and creator of the chassis make ZIP. "In a race at Rye House I saw this little boy fighting for the top positions before finishing 3rd in the Cadets' Final", remembers the man who has also discovered David Coulthard or Gary Paffett. "After the finish I congratulated him as well as his father. And when the latter informed me that it was just his maiden race I said to him: 'You should come and see me!' And they did... From the next race onwards, he ran with a Zip chassis!"

Extremely quick, Lewis piled up victories and titles in Great Britain. Cadet Champion in 1995 when he was only 10, he also landed, the year after, the "McLaren Champion of the future" series sponsored by the Formula One team. A bit shy but aware of his talent, the diminutive Lewis seized the opportunity to go and see Ron Dennis and told him he would love to drive one his cars some day. "Keep on winning and let me know", the McLaren F1 boss replied in a nutshell. So the little prodigy accumulated other successes and a year later went again to see Ron Dennis who, as good as his word, decided to support the determined young boy.

Only just 13 years old, Lewis therefore signed an initial contract with McLaren. From a modest background and supported by his father, who did not hesitate to cumulate three jobs to be able to pay for his son's racing, Lewis saw a bright future ahead of him. On one (major!) condition: to continue winning again and again. "I knew it was indispensable for Ron Dennis and the McLaren managers to keep on supporting me", he later confessed.

Unquestionably talented, Lewis Hamilton also turned out to be a relentless worker in Karting and, therefore, good results followed. European Junior Vice-Champion in 1999 Lewis was ready to climb up to the next step, Formula A. To begin in that category the Briton joined a team managed by Dino Chiesa and specifically set up for him and Nico Rosberg. Its name - Team MBM.com, for Mercedes-Benz-McLaren - left no doubts about it.