A look at the life by Lewis Hamilton to the point where his appeal was rejected by the FIA International Court of Appeal.

1985: Born Tewin, Hertfordshire, January 7.

1995: British cadet class and STP karting champion.

1996: Wins the Champions of the Future, Sky TV KartMasters and Five Nations karting series.

1997: Moves up to junior Yamaha and wins Champions of the Future series and Super One series.

1998: Competing in junior Intercontinental A, is second in McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future and fourth at the Italian Open. Confirmed he will be supported by McLaren and Mercedes-Benz.

2006: Wins the GP2 Series. On September 13 is given first test in a McLaren Formula One car.

November 24 - Confirmed as race driver for 2007 season for McLaren.

2007: March 18 - Finishes third on Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix.

April 15 - After finishing second in Malaysia, Hamilton follows up with second in Bahrain to become the first driver in Formula One world championship history to finish on the podium in his first three races.

May 13 - Another second in Spain gives Hamilton the outright lead in the drivers' standings, becoming the youngest ever man to hold such a position.

May 27 - Finishes second in Monaco Grand Prix as Fernando Alonso takes lead in championship, though Hamilton is level on points.

June 9 - Claims maiden pole position in Formula One at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

June 10 - Wins first Grand Prix, in Montreal.

July 8 - Third at Silverstone behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, who claims his second successive victory as the gap is closed on Hamilton's lead at the top of the drivers' championship.

July 21 - Taken to hospital after being involved in a 175mph smash in qualifying for the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. A faulty airgun led to his front-right wheel working loose.

July 22 - Cleared to race in Germany but starts in 10th - his lowest qualifying position of the season. Finishes ninth behind winning team-mate Alonso, who cuts Hamilton's championship lead to just two points.

September 13: McLaren are fined £49.2million and docked their points in the constructors' championship as a result of the Formula One spy scandal. But the World Motor Sport Council announce they will not dock the points from their drivers, Hamilton and Alonso.

September 16: Finishes a disappointing fourth in Belgium, one place behind Alonso. Hamilton narrowly avoids a collision with Alonso as both drivers push for the advantage in the opening corners.

September 30: Wins the Japanese Grand Prix at the Fuji Speedway to open a 12-point gap between himself and Alonso, who fails to finish the race, with two grands prix remaining.

October 5: F1 officials decide not to punish Hamilton for allegedly driving erratically at the Japanese Grand Prix. They had investigated a YouTube video that showed Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel crashing into each other while the Briton was following the safety car.

October 7: Retires from Chinese Grand Prix, allowing Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen to close the gap enough to keep the title race open until the final race of the season.

October 21: Finishes seventh to surrender the lead in the drivers' championship to Kimi Raikkonen in the last race.

2008: January 18 - McLaren announce Hamilton has signed a new five-year contract through to 2012.

March 16 - Gets the season off to a perfect start, winning the Australian Grand Prix.

May 25 - Hamilton keeps picking up the points - fifth in Malaysia, third in Spain and second in Turkey - before winning the Monaco Grand Prix.

June 8 - Is given a 10-place penalty after crashing into the back of Kimi Raikonnen while the Finn was waiting for a red light at the end of the pit lane at the Canadian Grand Prix. Both drivers have to retire from the race.

June 22 - Due to the penalty, is unable to claw himself through the field at the French Grand Prix and ends up finishing in 10th place .

July 6 - Wins the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

July 20 - Seals back-to-back victories for the first time in 13 months, winning the German Grand Prix to take a four-point lead in the drivers' title race.

September 7: Hamilton takes chequered flag in Belgian Grand Prix at Spa but race stewards hand him a 25-second drive-through penalty after claiming he cut a chicane to gain an unfair advantage over Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen. McLaren subsequently appeal against the stewards' decision.

September 23: Appeal is ruled inadmissible meaning Hamilton heads into final four races of the season with only a one-point lead.