McLaren rookie Stoffel Vandoorne doesn't want to be compared to Lewis Hamilton, or to any other driver for that matter.
The 24-year-old Belgian, who made his Grand Prix debut with McLaren last year in Bahrain, is on the eve of his first full season of Formula 1, and finds himself in a context similar to the one which Hamilton faced in 2007.
He'll certainly have his work cut out for him, both in terms of delivering results to McLaren and in terms of performance relative to team mate Fernando Alonso, but Vandoorne says he is fully aware of the challenge ahead.
"I do not want to be Hamilton," Vandoorne reportedly told La Gazzetta.
"I want to be Vandoorne and I'll give my maximum." "I do not expect anything from the relationship between Fernando and I.
"I didn't exactly get advice from Fernando and (Jenson) Button until now, but I was always close to them at the circuit, watching and trying to learn. But I have my own style."
Very much his own man, Vandoorne also dismissed any comparaisons with Max Verstappen.
"Max and I came to F1 on very different paths. I started racing a little late, did not have much money and didn't know what categories to do.
"Max did everything much faster. I lack experience in Grands Prix, but I'm more than ready."
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