Motor racing great Emerson Fittipaldi has attempted to put a lid on the hype surrounding Britain's Formula One newcomer Lewis Hamilton by claiming he will not win a race this season.

The 22-year-old McLaren driver finished an impressive third last weekend in the curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix. He has been made 8-15 favourite with Betterbet.com to win at least one race this season.

But Fittipaldi, once the youngest F1 world champion, was not swept away in the acclaim that surrounded the 2006 GP2 champion's debut.

"I like what I've seen of him so far," Fittipaldi told Sport magazine.

"He showed his talent in last year's GP2 championship, and that is what Formula One needs - races decided by overtaking on the road and not in the pits.”