BRITISH motor racing fans will share a jackpot of £5m today if Lewis Hamilton becomes Formula One’s youngest champion. Some saw his potential a decade ago and placed bets when he was a schoolboy racing go-karts.

Hamilton, 23, drives in the Brazilian Grand Prix needing just a fifth place in his McLaren-Mercedes to be sure of clinching the title he so narrowly missed last year. Last night he was in fourth place on the grid and his main rival, Felipe Massa, was in first.

British fans who placed bets on Hamilton to win the world championship 10 years ago will be on their own starting grid ready to collect from the bookmakers. Some obtained odds of 500-1 that he would win the F1 title.

A customer at Ladbrokes could celebrate a £125,000 pay-out today. The gambler, who wants to remain anonymous, scooped £40,000 last year when he collected on a £200 wager, at odds of 200-1, that Hamilton would win his first grand prix by the age of 23.

He could add £125,000 after betting £100 at 500-1 on Hamilton winning the world championship by the age of 25 and a further £50 double on the two bets at 1,500-1.

Christian Santo, 28, a lawyer stands to collect £10,000 from a £100 bet placed with William Hill, the bookmakers, in 2003.

“I first saw Lewis karting in 1996. The potential was pretty obvious,” he said. “I met him two years ago and told him about my bet. He joked that he wanted a cut if I won. If I win, the money will go towards my first Ferrari.”