Highlights

Rookie Hamilton not ruling out victory in Bahrain

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-04-13 08:33

After finishing third on his Formula One debut and second in Malaysia last weekend, rookie sensation Lewis Hamilton is not ruling out going one step further and winning in Bahrain on Sunday.

With double world champion Fernando Alonso as his McLaren team mate, and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa looking strong, the 22-year-old Briton knows it is only an outside chance.

The odds are against him -- no Formula One driver, since the first championship race in 1950, has been on the podium for the first three races of his career.

Yet Hamilton's first two have been so remarkable, and such is his confidence and composure in the heat of the action, that anything could happen. Bahrain is the first circuit on the calendar that he has previous experience of.

Asked on Thursday how close he felt to his first win, something it took compatriot Jenson Button 113 starts to achieve, Hamilton made clear that it was not a case of 'if' but 'when'.

But he also called for a sense of perspective.

"Yes I have had two podium finishes but I still am a rookie, I still have a lot to learn," he told a news conference.

"I know it may not particularly look like it, but there are huge amounts for me to learn from Fernando and from the team, different tracks that I haven't been to.

"There are going to be some major challenges for me this year that can take me by surprise or I might be fortunate enough to prepare for them better than other people may have and it might go smoothly.

"I'm pushing and working as hard as I can. It (the first victory) may be this weekend, it may be the last race of the year, it may be next year."

The Briton, winner of the GP2 support series last year before securing a seat at McLaren in an all-new line-up, is already being widely hailed as a future champion.

As surprised as anyone with how his season has started, Hamilton recognised his good fortune while also paying tribute to Alonso.

"It has been tough but I've had good luck on my side, been in the right place at the right time and done a good job and so has the team," said the youngster, whose career has been carefully guided by McLaren for a decade.

"I think Fernando has had a huge impact on the team," he added.

"His enthusiasm, his experience, has definitely brought a lot to the team in terms of developing the car and in pushing the team forward."