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Q & A with Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has known that he will be a Formula One driver in 2007 for almost two months now, and must have been itching to tell the world about his step up to Grand Prix racing with McLaren

Finally, though, his team have gone public on the news - ending months of speculation about just who would race alongside world champion Fernando Alonso.

Now he can freely speak about the decision, autosport.com heard from Hamilton about what the move means for him, how important his family support has been and just what he is expecting from life at McLaren next year.

Q. Your father Anthony must be very proud of you today. How much do you owe him?

Lewis Hamilton: Not only do I owe everything to my dad, but also to the rest of my family. My step-mum Linda and my younger brother Nicholas, who is an inspiration not only to me but also to young kids everywhere.

My family have had to sacrifice a lot and sacrifice their whole life since I was born, to bring me up and raise me well. They have had to jump in and out of jobs to try and make as much money as possible to keep me going. It's been a long hard struggle and without their support I wouldn't be here today.

Q. What are your ambitions for the year?

LH: In the first year it is going to be extremely tough, especially being alongside Fernando Alonso. But I am young, I am here to learn and I am dedicated to doing the best job I can. I will be working as hard as possible on and off track to get up to speed.

Q. Can you remember exactly when Ron Dennis told you? And how ready do you feel for the move up to F1?

LH: As soon as I finished the GP2 season and I went to the first test at Silverstone, I felt ready to make the next step. I knew I would need some time in the seat to get used to the controls, and getting used to working with new people.

When I first found out was on Saturday 30th September, just before the Chinese Grand Prix. I was invited to Ron's house and I sat down with Ron and Martin Whitmarsh. It was an incredible moment in my life. We sat there and he said: "We have decided you are going to be our driver next year." I had to put a professional front on and I had a small smile on me, but inside it was overwhelming.

Q. Have you got any reservations about going up against a driver like Fernando Alonso, and would you have preferred to be teammate to someone slower and without such success?

LH: Having the best driver alongside me is going to be the best position to be in for me. Having a two-time world champion, who is very experienced, very talented and a few years older than me, is great. He can give a lot to the team and I will be able to learn from him. I am looking forward to the challenge. I am ready for it and looking forward to the first race.

Q. How early on in your career did you feel that you would succeed like this and make it into F1?

LH: It is a difficult question to answer. Every individual has to have a certain amount of confidence in themselves. After every year you analyse how well you have done, what is the next step and how far you think you can go? Deep in your heart you have to know if you have what it takes to make it.

When did I feel I was confident that I would be able to get into F1? I think it was probably when I was 15 and started to mature and win international championships, and realise I had an actual talent. A lot of top F1 drivers had come through the top route like me and won championships

Q. What are the differences between an F1 car and a GP2 car?

LH: There is quite a big difference, although a lot of drivers say it is quite similar. The driving style is fairly similar, although in GP2 you don't have traction control; you have to control the car a lot more. In F1, you have to use the electronics a lot more to help you, and get the car on the limit.

Driving the car around and doing reasonable times is not such a problem, but getting the car on the edge is tougher and way beyond anything I've driven in the past. So I need to make sure I am mentally prepared and ready to understand everything that goes on over a GP weekend. I need to understand the car as much as Fernando does; setting up the car and getting it on its edge. That will be the main challenge.

Q. What pressure will there be as the so-called trailblazer as the first mixed race F1 driver?

LH: I don't feel it as a weight on my shoulders. I am proud of who I am and where I come from. Finally getting to F1, I have achieved not only my dreams but I have done something that so many people have wanted to achieve for so many years. Getting there and other ethnic groups seeing it, will open up doors for other cultures.

I remember when I was growing up, it was difficult to find someone to relate to. There will be a lot more people able to relate to me, to take what I have experienced and then make sacrifices and become dedicated.

Q. Lewis, can you describe yourself what you think is your best quality as a driver?

LH: I think as a driver there are many qualities that I have. You have a lot of drivers, some are quick at qualifying, some testing over one lap. I find my main strength is in a race. I am able to stay focused and never give up, which is key to succeeding in a race, no matter what position you are in.

So you fight until the end. That is one of the key things I have. But I think also working with the team, being able to extract the most from the car and from the team. That is key also, and you cannot win a race without the team working as hard as you are.

Q. How much of a benefit to you will it be to have Friday testing next year? Up until this year drivers have been very limited in the number of laps they could do on Fridays.

LH: I think it is going to improve the spectacle for spectators, make it more exciting for them, and it is going to help me a lot. If you look at the races this year, McLaren were possibly looking at racing me in Brazil.

But by qualifying, you have only done 10 laps and that is not enough to learn the circuit and get on top of the car. The more time in the car, the better. And the more time in the seat, the more opportunities I get in the car, the more I learn. So with the Fridays, they will help me a lot.

Q. Are there any special emotional feelings from having your debut with McLaren? Ron Dennis still talks fondly about the time that he first met you at the Autosport Awards.

LH: There are going to be emotions all over the place at the first race. It will be a special moment in my career and the most important moment of my career so far. I have been racing for 13 years now, nine of those with McLaren. I have known Ron for 11 years, and it is a great story and a great end to the chapter. But it's also the beginning of a new era, a new chapter, I would say.

Q. Are there any worries that people will look at your colour rather than your racing skills?

LH: Not really. I don't really look too far into it. I am here to do a job and here to do something I have wanted to do for many years. I will get on with my job and let other people get on with theirs. As soon as they do recognise that I am there, then more people will be into the sport.

Q. What is a realistic ambition for you? Ron has talked about you winning a race next season if the car is competitive enough, but only in the second half of the year?

LH: I think it is fair to say that McLaren are in it to win. I am certain that they are going to have a car that is capable of running in the top three next year. I think with Alonso's input, the car is going to be good next year, and we will all be very surprised. For me, I have just got to take it slow, take my time and enjoy the moment and learn as much as I can from Alonso.

But I think as a target I would have to say like any driver - winning. You cannot say my target is to finish in 10th place. I race to win, so my target is to win a race at some point. Whether that is next season or the year after, I cannot say. Fingers crossed I will be able to get some good points for the team anyway.

Q. What do you think will be the hardest thing for you to cope with? There is going to be a lot of media interest and hype around you at the start of the season.

LH: I think on the media side of it I will be okay personally. Only because with the press I have had in GP2 I have been able to control it very well, and McLaren will be able to help me on that side.

I think again, it will just be a question of getting used to different environments. The fame will be the hardest thing to get used to - but I will try to keep my feet on the ground and do the same job I have always done.

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