Hamilton feeling completely prepared

"Initially I felt that I was ready for the challenge of preparing to be a Formula One driver, but I wasn't ready to go out and do a race," said Hamilton, in an interview conducted by McLaren's press office.

"Now I know the ins and outs of the MP4-22, I know the team, about strategies, I know what I need to do in qualifying, how to use the Bridgestone Potenzas and so on.

"I really am more than ready now, as a rookie coming in I feel incredibly prepared."

The GP2 champion has modest aims for his debut race.

"My aim would be to finish, preferably in the points," he said. "It would be great to have a steady first race and get a couple of points for myself and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team.

"That would be a really fantastic start to the season, but it is not going to be easy.

"I want to win, but have to be realistic, if I was to get a podium this year it would be really amazing, so I've got to work towards that."

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh promised that the team would give Hamilton time and space to develop.

"The most important thing is that he demonstrates the ability to learn and develop during the season," said Whitmarsh. "Whatever he does in the first race, we want his performance to get progressively stronger as the season goes on.

"When you look back at his five years in single seater car racing, Lewis has dominated and won the championship in three of those, which is an astounding record and inevitably what people focus on.

"In two of the years he had to learn his way and develop and these were enormously valuable seasons for him, particularly from a mental perspective given the hype and expectation that has surrounded Lewis.

"He has always dealt with it and come through strong, so he has had to deal with much more pressure than some of his contemporaries. He has been in challenging situations, where he hasn't been happy with his performance, he has dealt with that and come through it.

"Whilst Lewis, I'm sure is expecting of himself a very strong showing in the first races of his Formula 1 career, if it happens great, if it doesn't he has the experience to cope with it and we are in this with him for the long term."