Formula One: Who Is The Best Rookie Of The Modern Era?

Teammate:Double World Champion, Fernando Alonso

Considered to be one of the best seasons in F1's storied history, there was as much action on the track as there was off.  Following the impressive display of speed and pace in the season's first race, Lewis' first win became just a matter of time, an issue of "when" not "if". 

The question of "when" was answered in the chaos that was the Grand Prix of Canada—ironically, a race that JV never was able to win.  His teammate, Alonso had a horrid race, placing sveenth and many pundits started to see the silver on Hamilton's car shine just a bit brighter than on Alonso's.  

Hamilton followed up his win in Canada with a memorable slipstream duel on the front straight at Indy, where him and Alonso nearly touched tires at 215 mph. Lewis, having led in the standings since very early in the season, was being talked about as the first driver since Jacques Villeneuve to have a chance to win the title in his freshmen year.  

The second half of the season made the first half look like a mid card bout before the main event.  Both Ferrari and McLaren exchanged wins, slugging it out until the Grand Prix of China, where Lewis stood to make history after his rain soaked victory at Fuji a week earlier. 

Then he beached his McLaren in the gravel just outside the pits.  History had been made and lost that day.  Brazil gave the fans a three way showdown that ended in epic fashion.  Hamilton, ended up runner up by only a single point.

The 1996 Rookie Season of Jacques Villeneuve

Car: Williams Renault FW-18

Teammate: Damon Hill

1996 was a season that saw a few changes on the grid in Melbourne.  Michael Schumacher had just joined Ferrari and had taken his world title that he won with Benneton in 1995, to Maranello. 

Damon Hill, runner up in 1994 to the title in a very controversial race to Michael Schumacher, was yearning to stand out from his own father's shadow, former multi-world champion, Grahm Hill. 

So it would be two second generation F1 drivers, Jacques, son of Gilles and Damon, son of Grahm leading the Williams team in 1996. 

Having set the pole and the races' fastest lap, JV almost completed the triple threat but it was not to be.  With his engine clinging to life, Jacques was ordered to allow Damon to pass him in the final phases of his first race, finishing second, the same step on the podium that Lewis Hamilton would take 11 years later.   

Jacques' first win would come just three races later at the new Nurburgring circut in Germany.  He would finish in grand fashion, just .720 seconds in front of Michael Schumacher's Ferrari.  He would go on to win three more races but would never lead the driver's championship.

LH and JV share the ignominious distinction of never being able to win their home race.  JV came closest in his rookie season by placing second in Montreal, Hamilton finished off the podium at Silverstone and to the disapointment of David Hobbes and millions of other Britons. 

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