Born and raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Hamilton joined the McLaren young driver programme in 1998. This led to a Formula One drive with McLaren in , making Hamilton the first, and so far only, black driver to race in the series. That season, Hamilton set numerous records as he finished runner-up to Kimi Räikkönen by one point. The following season, he won his maiden title in dramatic fashion – making a crucial overtake on the last lap of the last race of the season – to become the then-youngest Formula One World Champion in history. After four more years with McLaren, Hamilton signed with Mercedes in .