Hamilton earns respect of Ferrari boss

[The Stig]

Lewis Hamilton has earned the respect of the man trying to stop him winning the Formula One world title.


Hamilton is a major threat to Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen becoming champions, and for many that is a major surprise.

The consensus was that Hamilton's McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso would be the thorn in the side of the Ferrari duo, but ahead of tomorrow's Monaco Grand Prix, all three trail the young pretender.

The 22-year-old heads Alonso by two points, Massa by three and is eight clear of Raikkonen, and that has made Ferrari boss Jean Todt sit up and take notice.

"He had a good school last year," commented Todt on Hamilton's GP2 success, and the fact he has been groomed by McLaren over the last decade.

"He's a very skilled, talented driver, who has been fortunate enough to drive one of the best cars this year.

"But we know that in racing you need to have the car, you need to have the team and you need to have the drivers. If you miss one of those components it cannot work.

"He has a good car, he has a good team and he's a great driver, so I would say that I'm not really surprised.

"But I'm full of respect for this young guy."