Millions of viewers will have their fingers crossed for Lewis Hamilton in the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, but nobody will be watching him as closely as a 53-year-old driving instructor from Hatfield in Hertfordshire.

Stephen Sivell was pottering around his house on a spring day five years ago when his phone rang and a well-spoken 17-year-old asked him if he could teach him how to drive. “I’ll never forget it because I log everything,” Sivell said. “It was 2.32pm on Wednesday, April 10, 2002. Three days later I was outside his house in my silver Nissan Micra when I noticed a big van with Team Lewis Hamilton written on the side. I thought to myself, ‘That’s a bit strange.’ ” Five minutes later, Hamilton, who could become the first rookie to win the Formula One World Championship this weekend, was belted up in the driver’s seat and they were getting ready to tackle the twisty roads of Tewin. Mirror, signal, manoeuvre . . . they were off, and while Sivell kept his eyes on the road, Hamilton tried to impress his instructor by talking about his karting exploits.

“I thought I’d heard it all before,” Sivell said. “I get kids telling me how good they are all the time, but when I get them on the road they don’t have a clue. But Lewis was special. When the lights went green he was off and straight away I felt like a chef who’s been given the best ingredients to cook with. The first corner we took he absolutely pinned it. He was going a little fast and he took a wide racing line, but that was just his exuberance - he was an exceptional driver.”

Most learners need about 60 hours behind the wheel before they are competent drivers, but Sivell was convinced that Hamilton was ready to take his test after four 90-minute lessons. Total cost: £108. Hamilton passed first time and the only man who has told the McLaren driver to slow down likes to think that he has played a small but significant part in getting the 22-year-old millionaire to where he is today.

“I’ve never come across someone as good as Lewis,” Sivell said. “His eye-hand coordination was perfect, his attitude was perfect – he was a breath of fresh air. I’ve had some drivers who’ve been so bad that I’ve had to tell them that I don’t want to teach them any more, but he was like a sponge. Normally in a lesson I have to remind the driver a hundred times to check their mirrors, but if you told Lewis something once he picked it up straight away and never forgot it.”

Although Sivell has not spoken to Hamilton since the boy wonder got rid of his L-plates, he has watched every race this season and is confident that his former pupil can get the eight points he needs to clinch the drivers’ title at Interlagos.

“Lewis told me five years ago that he would become world champion one day and I have no doubt he will,” Sivell said. “Even when I watch races on TV I can tell he’s the best driver. There’s been a lot of politics going on in the background at McLaren, but he’s the best driver because he makes fewer mistakes than anyone else.”

While Sivell sang Hamilton’s praises, I plucked up the courage to ask the question that had been on the tip of my tongue since we got into his blue Micra. “Could I have a little lesson, Steve?” Five minutes later I was at the wheel. We were approaching a busy junction on the Great North Road and it was time for another tricky question: “Who’s the better driver, Steve, you or Lewis?”

Sivell said: “On the roads I’d have to say I am, but you have to remember that I’ve been doing this job for 30 years. It’s been a thankless task. I’ve been called every name under the sun. I’ve been sworn at and abused just because I’m trying to do my job and make the roads safer, but teaching a world champion how to drive – now that’s something I can be proud of.”

Who will be first away from the lights?

2007 McLaren MP4-22
Nickname Silver Arrow
Cost £7 million
Doors n/a
Seats One
Engine Mercedes-Benz FO 108T V8 2,398cc
Top speed Limited to about 220mph
0-60mph 2.3sec
Horsepower 750bhp
Economy About 3.8mpg
Gears Seven forward, one reverse
Insurance group n/a
CD player n/a

2001 Nissan Micra 1.0 16V
Nickname The Noddy Car
Cost £7,000
Doors Three
Seats Four
Engine Nissan CG10DE 998cc
Top speed 96mph
0-60mph 15.7sec
Horsepower 58bhp
Economy 48.7mpg
Gears Five forward, one reverse
Insurance group Two
CD player Standard