Having dominated every series he contested before entering F1, Lewis Hamilton is only too aware of the enormous pressure facing a driver when he takes that final step up to the so-called pinnacle of motorsport, a step that many have failed to take successfully.

While impressing from the outset of his own F1 career, despite the political machinations within his then team at that time, Hamilton is only too aware of the enormous pressure heaped on drivers as they enter F1 on the back of an impressive rise through the ranks.

Consequently, as some are already talking of Charles Leclerc's title chances, not to mention disillusioning teammate Sebastian Vettel, in his first season with Ferrari, Hamilton has warned that it is "unfair" to put such pressure on the youngster.

"I think it would be unfair to put that kind of expectation on his shoulders," the Mercedes driver told reporters, when asked if the Monegasque youngster will outshine his teammate, Vettel, this season.

It's only his second year," he continued. "He's young, he's going to make mistakes. He's obviously very quick, very talented, and most likely he is going to surprise many, many people, but you're talking about a veteran out there now who's a four-time world champion.

"There's no substitute for experience," he warned, "so it will be interesting to see how those two parallels work together. Sebastian is a multi-world champion, and Charles has a lot of experience to go through.

"The great thing with a youngster is that you're energised beyond belief and determined," he continued, "and you have more energy than the elders do, so as I say it'll be interesting to watch. I've been in that same position that they're in, at McLaren, so you've seen it in one realm, it'll be interested to see it in that one."

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