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Hamilton: 'I'm game for new drivers coming through'

Lewis Hamilton says he always welcomes new talent into F1 and finds the sport's latest crop of young drivers "refreshing".

Former F2 front-runners George Russell, Lando Norris and Alex Albon are Formula 1's 2019 rookies and each one has impressed so far this season with their respective teams: Williams, McLaren and Toro Rosso.

Along with Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, the group is seen as leading Grand Prix racing's future.

"I’m game for new drivers coming through," Hamilton said.

"They come through with new techniques, new driving styles, new aggression so it definitely is refreshing and it’s great to see.

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"Each year I just focus on trying to improve myself as a driver and welcome the new guys that come through.

"I don’t look at any of them and think that they looked at me and think they wanted to beat me."

The burgeoning and confirmed talents are all determined to secure their own spot in the sun, a fact that also spurs Hamilton on as he fights to keep ahead of the hungry pack of young wolves.

"I’ve heard some of them talk about other drivers like [Aryton] Senna and Michael [Schumacher]," added the reigning world champion.

"Obviously I’ve been where they are and I can empathise with the experience they’re going through and the challenges that they all face in their own way in the races throughout the year and the following years.

"I’ve got my work cut out to try and stay ahead of them, which gets harder and harder every year.

"If anyone could do it, I guess then it wouldn’t be a special job."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.