Lewis ready for Oz, says Dennis

[davewilson]

McLaren boss Ron Dennis says Lewis Hamilton is ready for his Formula 1 debut at Melbourne next month.


The 22-year-old GP2 champion was put on an intense preparation programme by the team following his first test last September in order to get him up to speed with Formula 1.


In addition to pre-season testing duties, Hamilton has spent more than four hours a day in McLaren's gym, as well as receiving intensive training in mental focus, dealing with pressure and F1's rules and regulations.


And now Dennis says that despite his inexperience, the young Briton is as ready as anyone for the season-opener in Australia on March 18.


“He’s ready for F1,” Dennis told SPEEDtv.com.


“Many people would argue that he should be in a less competitive team in order that not so much is expected of him.


“But he’s handling it, and we’ve put a lot of work in over the last five months to bring him up to speed, to try and make him the fittest driver, the most knowledgeable driver about the rules.


“He understands things about the racing car that very few drivers have ever taken the effort to learn.


“He might not be the most experienced driver when he starts the Australian GP in Melbourne, but he will be a lot more knowledgeable than most of them about many, many subjects, and super-fit as well.”


Hamilton has impressed alongside double world champion Fernando Alonso in winter testing, topping the final day times at Valencia last week.


That performance came exactly a week after his first major crash in an F1 car at the same track, and Dennis says that aside from that setback, the Briton has been in fantastic form.


“The accident was induced by the wet weather, but the actual tests both before and after have been exceptional,” he said.


The Stig