Lewis Hamilton is on course to become the greatest driver in Formula One's history, according to McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh.

Hamilton burst onto the F1 season in record-breaking fashion, becoming the first driver to claim three podium finishes in his first three races.

His phenomenal results have also put the McLaren rookie at the top of the Drivers' standings, together with his double World Champion team-mate, Fernando Alonso, and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

However, Whitmarsh believes it's only a matter of time before Hamilton is ahead of his rivals and winning World titles.

"It's obviously too early to analyse but if the trend continues there is no reason why he could not be the greatest driver ever," Whitmarsh told The Guardian.

"Since I joined McLaren in 1989 I've worked with a lot of great drivers including (Alain) Prost, (Ayrton) Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Kimi Raikkonen and now Fernando Alonso with Lewis and I think I've developed a pretty clear picture of what gives the top guys that crucial edge over the simply good or average drivers.

"And I think it is pretty clear that Lewis ticks all the necessary boxes."

Whitmarsh went on to explain what he believes that 'boxes' are.

"Firstly, and obviously, you need the natural skill. Secondly you require a considerable degree of natural toughness. Thirdly some technical empathy is a major benefit because it helps a driver to integrate better with his engineers, which in turn speeds up the car development progress," he added.

"Finally there is fitness, determination and application. Even over their cornflakes the top guys are always thinking what they can do to improve their own performances and work hard. It is almost as if they have some special genetic capability.

"Lesser drivers don't do this, possibly because they aren't smart enough, aren't committed enough or simply don't care."

Fernando Alonso is not feeling the pressure of racing against team-mate Lewis Hamilton, according to McLaren.

Alonso has come under some stiff pressure from his rookie team-mate this season, starting with the Australian GP, which saw the Spaniard trailing his team-mate for two-thirds of the race.

And although the World Champion got the better of Hamilton at the second race in Malaysia, he failed to match his team-mate's performance in the Bahrain GP.

The duo's results this season have put them tied for the lead in the Drivers' standings along with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

However, it's only just on the race-track but also in the press that Hamilton is getting all the attention.

But despite this, McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh is confident that Alonso isn't feeling rattled by his rookie team-mate.

"I think that the two guys are very open and honest with each other and the team," Whitmarsh told Autosport.

"They both want to beat each other. And providing that is in a constructive manner, which it is and has been so far, then that is positive. If a racing driver doesn't want to beat his team-mate then there has to be something wrong with that.

"Our guys are really true competitors. But I think Fernando has tremendous resilience, self-belief and confidence.

"He will recognise that he has come out of the first three races as co-leader of the Championship and he will fancy his chances of getting the job done."

Eddie Jordan has criticised McLaren boss Ron Dennis for being too over-protective of the team's young star Lewis Hamilton. The Former F1 boss, who himself nurtured many young talented drivers on the way to stardom, believes Dennis should let his protégé embrace the media.

"Media interviews, through generating interest for fans and exposure for paying sponsors, are the lifeblood of Formula One," Jordan told F1 Racing magazine.

"So, what was Ron Dennis thinking when he stopped Lewis Hamilton doing interviews on the Melbourne and Sepang grids? Ten other drivers would gladly have done it, and all sponsors would give their right arm for a logo shown in the pre-start minutes.

"And fans certainly wanted to hear F1's new star, live. I don't understand what he was being protected from, and it'll only hurt his profile. Nobody in F1 is too important for 'trivialities' like the media. Let's get this straight: focus on technology and driving all you want, but if nobody's watching, you ain't gonna be at it for long.

"Lewis is good enough to stay focused. He doesn't need nannying. Ron should have let us have our piece: we're entitled to get to know him," he added.

Fernando Alonso has bucked reports that the opening few races of the season have left him 'rattled'.

The reigning World Champion and current championship leader might be forgiven for feeling flustered about the performance and hype of his rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton or his lacklustre outing earlier this month in Bahrain.

But Alonso is quoted by the Spanish news agency EFE as insisting that he still considers himself to be in a honeymoon-like period of this season.

The next Grand Prix is at Barcelona, where a sellout crowd of Alonso's countrymen are expected.

"You are always really optimistic during the first months of a season," he said, "and you think that you can repeat all of your past successes."

"There are no bad thoughts at all - they usually come a little bit later, when things happen and you start to have doubts."

Alonso insisted: "But at the beginning of the season all of your expectations and predictions are good ones.
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The Spaniard said switching from Renault after five years at the French team has left him feeling 'refreshed'.

"I have a different image but I have not changed as a person," Alonso continued. "But changing teams has made me feel ready for new challenges; I feel that this is a new chapter in my life and it is exactly what I needed."

He failed to match Briton Hamilton's pace last time out in Bahrain but Alonso insists that he approaches every race freshly and 'thinking that I can win'.

"Five minutes before you put on your helmet it would be a mistake to think that you are not going to beat everyone," he explained

Got pictures of the new Mclaren?

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