With arguably the second best car in the field and sharing a McLaren with world champion Fernando Alonso, rookie Lewis Hamilton has set a modest target for his formula one debut this Sunday.
Ahead of the season opening Australian grand prix, the 22-year-old Briton – the subject of immense media hype, particularly in Britain – indicated that seventh place would be good enough.
“It would be great to have a steady first race and get a couple of points for myself and the team,” Hamilton, the reigning GP2 champion, said.
He added: “That would be a really fantastic start to the season, but it is not going to be easy.”
Hamilton vowed to take his first year in the sport’s highest category “step by step” but confirmed that winning is still his target.
Seven of F1’s circuits, including Albert Park, are new to him this year.
“I want to win, but have to be realistic. If I was to get a podium this year it would be really amazing, so I’ve got to work towards that,” he added.
The team’s F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh admits that McLaren has deliberately tried to “moderate expectations” ahead of Lewis’ rookie year.
Whitmarsh added: “Whatever he does in the first race, we want his performance to get progressively stronger as the season goes on.
“We are in this with him for the long term.”
