Lewis Hamilton: Message from Ron Dennis “really touched me”

Former McLaren chief Dennis signed Hamilton onto McLaren when he was 13 years old and helped him get through into Formula 1.
 
The Briton entered his debut season with McLaren in F1 in 2007 and came within one point of winning the championship, coming back the next year and taking it at the dramatic season ending Brazilian Grand Prix in 2008.
 
Hamilton left the Woking-based team at the end 2012 for a new journey at Mercedes, going onto to win another five titles since.
 
"I am so grateful for all the people I know who have sent me a text to congratulate me, but it is a lot to reply to. There are like 400 messages so it was a lot,” he said in Brazil.
 
"But seeing Ron’s text it really touched me inside. 
 
“I met him when I was 10 years old, and he saw something in me that no one else did except for my dad, and gave me an opportunity to showcase my abilities and to learn and to grow and without him.
 
"I most likely wouldn’t have made it to F1, I would have fallen away due to lack of finance.
 
“I would have been leap frogged by a bunch of individuals who had more money to back them, so I am forever grateful to Ron and always have love for Ron.
 
"I hope he feels some sort of pride and he said how proud he was...so I hope that he can share and feel that he is just as much a part of this as anyone."