(CNN) -- Lewis Hamilton has always been driven by his emotions -- for better or for worse -- but has he found a new level of maturity with Mercedes? 

The double world champion has been schooled in the harsh lessons that Formula One can mete out since he joined McLaren's junior program when just 13 years old. 

But, despite this careful education by one of the most straight laced teams in F1, the British boy racer cannot help wearing his heart on his sleeve. 

There have been some heady highs and mesmerizing meltdowns in his eight-year career at the highest level of motorsport. 

Fizzing with energy, he bounded into the sport in 2007 and refused to lie down when faced with Fernando Alonso, a double world champion, as his feisty McLaren teammate. 

With Alonso gone after a single acrimonious season, Hamilton drove the McLaren to the 2008 title with "my heart in my mouth." 

At just 23 years old, he had sensationally clinched the championship at the last corner, of the last lap, of the last race to deny Ferrari's Felipe Massa -- and a seething crowd of home fans -- in Brazil. 

If 2008 was the young gun's giddy zenith, the 2011 campaign was his gut-wrenching nadir. 

His long-distance relationship with American pop star Nicole Scherzinger was more off than on and he had ditched his dad Anthony as manager in favor of a high-profile agency. 

Hamilton teetered on the edge of controversy and despair. The torch paper was lit at the Monaco Grand Prix when he was penalized by the race stewards. 
Who was a double world champion?
In what?
At what age did he join McLaren's junior program?
Who did Hamilton have a long distance relationship with?
Where is she from?
And what kind of star is she?
Who did Hamilton let go of as his manager?
What's his name?
What has Hamilton been schooled in?
How many years has his career been?
What year did he start in the sport?
And what year did he clinch the championship?
How old was Hamilton when he clinched the championship?
Does he have a lot of energy?
What teammate did he refuse to give in to?
What was his romance with Nicole Scherzinger like?
What balanced on the edge of controversy and sadness?
Which race was he penalized in?
By who?
Who did Hamilton replace his father with?
Lewis Hamilton
 Lewis Hamilton has always been driven by his emotions -- for better or for worse -- but has he found a new level of maturity with Mercedes? 

The double world champion 
racer
 the British boy racer cannot help wearing his heart on his sleeve. 
13 years old.
he joined McLaren's junior program when just 13 years old. 
Nicole Scherzinger
His long-distance relationship with American pop star Nicole Scherzinger
American
His long-distance relationship with American pop star Nicole Scherzinger
pop star
American pop star Nicole Scherzinger
his dad
he had ditched his dad Anthony as manager in favor of a high-profile agency. 
Anthony
 he had ditched his dad Anthony as manager
the harsh lessons that Formula One can mete out
The double world champion has been schooled in the harsh lessons that Formula One can mete out
eight
There have been some heady highs and mesmerizing meltdowns in his eight-year career at the highest level of motorsport. 
2007
Fizzing with energy, he bounded into the sport in 2007
2008
Hamilton drove the McLaren to the 2008 title 
23
At just 23 years old, he had sensationally clinched the championship
yes
Fizzing with energy, he bounded into the sport
Fernando Alonso
refused to lie down when faced with Fernando Alonso, a double world champion, as his feisty McLaren teammate. 
more off than on
His long-distance relationship with American pop star Nicole Scherzinger was more off than on
Hamilton
Hamilton teetered on the edge of controversy and despair.
the Monaco Grand Prix
The torch paper was lit at the Monaco Grand Prix when he was penalized by the race stewards.
the race stewards.
The torch paper was lit at the Monaco Grand Prix when he was penalized by the race stewards.
a high-profile agency.
he had ditched his dad Anthony as manager in favor of a high-profile agency. 