Lewis Hamilton: Year-by-year analysis of his Formula 1 career (2007-2018)

2010 | Race Wins: 3 | Poles: 1 | Fourth

Hamilton celebrating his victory at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium in 2010

For the second time in his career, Hamilton had a reigning world champion sharing the McLaren-Mercedes garage with him in Jenson Button.

Yet again the contest was close and many expected Hamilton to dominate the garage. He didn't entirely. McLaren returned with a very fast but fragile car that kept Hamilton in the hunt with wins in Istanbul, Montreal and Spa. It was one of those rare F1 seasons when 3 teams and 6 drivers were in the hunt for a race win throughout and Hamilton did give a fine account of his talent and race craft.

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2011 | Race Wins: 3 | Poles: 1 | Fifth

A tough year in which Jenson Button was the better driver at McLaren

By his own admission, it was his annus horribilis. Outscored for the first time in his career by a teammate, it is fair to say he was outraced as well by Jenson Button. This was a season in which he was error-prone and frequently summoned by the stewards.

He was drawn to Felipe Massa like a magnet, colliding multiple times with the Brazilian as the season went on. Yet, he was the only driver to break Red Bull's stranglehold on the pole position and winning thrice - in China, Germany and Abu Dhabi.

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2012 | Race Wins: 4 | Poles: 7 | Fourth

A quick car, the MP4- 27 also brought a lot of retirements for Hamilton

As many as 5 DNFs (retirements) derailed his chances of a title tilt as him and Jenson Button finished 190-188 in points and fourth and fifth overall. McLaren-Mercedes by the second half had the fastest car but disappointingly ended up with neither of the championships.

Despite driving the best he had since his championship-clinching 2008 campaign, frequent break-downs and disappointments led to the surprise move to Mercedes in 2013, breaking away from the McLaren stable that he was with since he was 13.