The mob of international media crowding the McLaren-Mercedes paddock on Thursday left no doubt that Lewis Hamilton is Formula One's new star.
With Canada's Jacque Villeneuve squeezed out of his ride at Sauber last summer and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher retired, the 22-year-old Englishman has stunned the motor sports world with the hottest start in F1 history.
He finished third in his first race at Melbourne in March, then reeled off four straight second-place finishes to become the first driver to reach the podium in his first five races.
PHOTO: AP
He goes into the Canadian Grand Prix at Gilles Villeneuve Circuit this weekend tied with teammate and defending champion Fernando Alonso of Spain with 38 points in the drivers' standings -- five more than Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.
The teams had two practice sessions yesterday.
Qualifying is today and the 71-lap race is tomorrow.
"I'm overwhelmed with my performance and the team's performance so far," said Hamilton. "I definitely didn't expect this.
"I'm only 22. I have a long, long way to go. Michael [Schumacher] retired at 37, so I've got at least 10 years to race."
He may also have set a record for quickest driver to be entangled in controversy.
Villeneuve slammed Hamilton's aggressive starts in Britain's Autosport magazine this week.
"When will these chopping moves [cutting to the sides] stop?" Villeneuve told the magazine. "Lewis is not getting penalized for these things and his behavior off the start line has started to look like Michael used to."
Films of the starts haven't shown any dangerous moves by the rookie, other than two weeks ago in Monaco, where everyone jostles for position because overtaking on the track is next to impossible.
Hamilton was surprised at the criticism.
He said Villeneuve was one of the first F1 drivers he ever met and that he holds the 1997 world champion in high regard.
"He has a right to his opinions," Hamilton said. "I respect that.
"But this is racing. If I was cutting across so there was a chance of taking them out, I would totally agree, but that's not been the case in any of the races."
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