We join the world of sport in congratulating one of CATS College Alumni – Lewis Hamilton – as he wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, securing a second Formula One title and being crowned World Champion.
Lewis Hamilton thanked and acknowledged his time at CATS College Cambridge in his official Autobiography:
“CATS was a fantastic place… It was a pleasurable experience for me. The staff were really nice: they spoke to you on the level and not as if they were above you. I also felt more fulfilled and began to value myself differently. I was happier…
Once I went to College I realized that I could enjoy more things and I bucked up my ideas a lot. I felt like I really wanted to do well. Something clicked for me. It was a much smaller class and I got on well with my teachers…It was the first time in my life in my academic work that I actually thought to myself, “I can do this and I can do well in exams.”
When I went to CATS, they were willing to give me time. They were totally open to my racing. They didn’t even ask about it. They were just…”This is what you have to do, if that’s what you want to do then go and do it…” They never said, “Oh, Lewis, you shouldn’t be taking this time off.” They never questioned it. Instead it was, “Well, how can we work around it?” And that’s why it was so good. They worked with me.”
Extract from ‘Lewis Hamilton: My Story’. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. Copyright Lewis Hamilton 2007.