Grapevine: Mclaren Protege Hamilton Steps Up a Grade
McLaren-Mercedes' protege Lewis Hamilton stepped up from Formula Renault to Formula Three on Friday and immediately showed his talent with a fourth fastest time in practice for his debut at Brands Hatch this weekend.
McLaren-Mercedes' protege Lewis Hamilton stepped up from Formula Renault to Formula Three on Friday and immediately showed his talent with a fourth fastest time in practice for his debut at Brands Hatch this weekend.
McLaren chief Ron Dennis has groomed 18-year-old Hamilton for stardom since his karting days and the Briton confirmed his potential this year by following Kimi Raikkonen to Championship victory in British Formula Renault.
He has now moved into his Manor Motorsport team's Formula Three squad for the final round of the Formula Three season and is confident of a good result after his first run in the category.
"The way it went I think we could have been fastest today," said Hamilton. "It was good because straight from the go we were on the pace and I think we can expect a top five finish.
"McLaren have been steering things and after I won the Formula Renault title we decided it would be good to get a race in Formula Three before deciding on whether to enter the British or European championships with Mercedes next year."
Share Or Save This Story
How F1 2026 has been a season of two halves for Ferrari so far
How Ferrari's Hungarian GP meltdown cost a shot at the F1 podium
Why Hungarian GP pole position was an ‘overachievement" for Norris – and Ferrari still has a better car
How the McLaren MP4/8B's engine blow-up changed F1 history
Is the MP4/8B McLaren’s greatest what-might-have-been?
Why McLaren has been coy about introducing its rotating F1 rear wing
Why Aston Martin is a better destination on the F1 driver market than it seems
What is it like being a Williams F1 simulator driver?
Marquez expects rivals to risk more in hunt for MotoGP title
MotoGP title challenger Bezzecchi pessimistic for British GP
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments