Hamilton already comfortable at McLaren

British driver Lewis Hamilton says he has hit the ground running with the McLaren team ahead of his maiden Formula One season

Hamilton, backed by McLaren for the past ten years, has already impressed the team in testing following his GP2 championship success.

"I am already gelling well with the team. I know a lot of the guys already, so I've been able to hit the ground running," Hamilton told reporters ahead of the launch of the new McLaren in Valencia.

"It's a new thing for me, to develop a car. I'm normally used to just sitting in them and going straight out. So the winter tests are crucial. Learning about the car, there's so much to learn from the technical side.

"When you start driving a Formula One car, it almost drives you, and you have to fight it. When you get used to it, you start to control it.

"In pre-season testing (last year), I wasn't expecting to be mega quick - if you are, you're either ridiculously good or it's easy, and it isn't easy. But I love working hard, there is never a problem without a solution."

Twenty-two-year-old Hamilton will partner two-time champion Fernando Alonso in McLaren's all-new line-up, and although there are high expectations on him, the Briton says his main goal for 2007 is to learn from team and Alonso.

"My goals for the year are to learn as much as possible from the team and from Fernando," added Hamilton.

"You always need a strong teammate, and he's the strongest. I'll be learning from his data and the way he deals with the press."