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Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has admitted his first love was not cars but motorbikes.

And the Mercedes ace revealed when he got the first go-kart at the age of eight that began his incredible journey to race car stardom – he really wanted to be on two wheels not four.

The 30-year-old is set to become one of the greatest car racers of all time and the last round of the world championship in Hungary extended his lead over title rival Nico Rosberg to 21 points.

With two world titles under his belt his soaring form in 2015 makes him hot favourite to become only the second Briton to win a third.

And with a new staggering new three-year £90m Mercedes contract recently signed not many people would bet against him winning a few more.

But that wasn’t his ambition when he was growing up in Stevenage.

In pictures - Hungarian Grand Prix

“When I was a kid I wanted to race motorbikes,” said Hamilton. “When my dad bought me my first go-kart I actually wanted a motorbike.

“I’m not disappointed how things have turned out but bikes were my first love I suppose.

“I’d also love to test a MotoGP bike just to see what it’s like. Naturally I’d know the lines but I’d love to know if I could even do it.”

(Image: Clive Mason/Getty)

Hamilton has become a true global sports star jetting almost weekly between London, his home in Monaco and Los Angeles.

And it is in America where his other racing ambitions lie with the country’s premier saloon car series immortalised by Tom Cruise’s move Days of Thunder.

“I’d really like to do a NASCAR race one day,” added Hamilton.