> David Coulthard: McLaren have risked Hamilton's career

Red Bull Racing ace David Coulthard believes McLaren has put British sensation Lewis Hamilton's career at risk by giving him his dream race drive alongside world champion Fernando Alonso before he is ready.

Coulthard, a self-confessed Hamilton fan, said in his column in Sunday's News of the World, that it is too soon in the 21-year-old's career to be exposed to the inevitable public scrutiny that goes with racing for a top team in the same car as the world's best driver.

Instead, according to the former McLaren race-winner, it would have been better for the team to allow F1's first black driver to get some miles under his belt with a year of testing.

"McLaren have given him his break way too soon," said DC, who is now F1's oldest driver following the retirement of Michael Schumacher.

"Ron Dennis should have given Lewis a year as a test driver before promoting him to the race seat.

"It's great for Lewis to be the first black driver in Formula 1," he added.

"I've known him since he was a kid in karting, and I have absolutely no doubt he has the right attitude and work ethic to be successful in Formula 1.

"But Lewis would have been better off with a year's testing."

The sport's history is littered with stories of drivers whose careers suffered because they were exposed too soon to have a chance to make their mark.

Indeed Coulthard's own promising Red Bull team-mate Christian Klien was dropped from the race squad before the Japanese GP after just two and a half seasons in the top flight.

DC blamed the fact that the Austrian, who was the same age as Hamilton when he joined Jaguar in 2004, was forced to learn his trade under the gaze of the F1 paddock jury, and his results suffered for it.

"Lewis is still only 21 and has plenty of racing years ahead of him," said Coulthard.

"He could face a very tough time with Fernando Alonso as his team-mate.

"Alonso may be new to McLaren, but he is a double-world champion.

"The first person you are compared to is your team-mate and if Lewis struggles alongside Alonso it could destroy his confidence.

"There is no doubting his [Lewis's] potential, but he needs time to develop – not just as a driver – but also as a man."

McLaren's team principal Dennis however is fully confident that Hamilton is ready for his grand prix debut, having spent nine years carefully preparing his protégé for just this moment.

"Looking at Lewis and his actions in and out of the car we felt he was worthy of being given the opportunity to show what he can do."

The McLaren boss says no comparisons will be made and Hamilton will be given time to settle into his role.

"He shouldn't compete with his team-mate," said Dennis.

"He has to focus on his own performance. We will give him the opportunity and the time to blossom as a GP driver.

"Of course we have reservations he is an unproven product," he added.

"But we have a double world champion in the other car so we are not going to get lost.

"We have got the best driver driving for us and this allows us to be less concerned about giving Lewis a chance."

Well, I think DC is probably right.... I mean, comparisons are inevitable. I only hope this doesnt screw up a superb career for Hamilton.


SOURCE: itv-f1