Stoffel Vandoorne: "I do not want to be Hamilton"

Stoffel Vandoorne has played down comparisons with Lewis Hamilton.

The Belgian rookie will make his full Formula One début later this year, racing alongside Fernando Alonso at McLaren.

Hamilton also made his F1 bow with McLaren alongside Alonso, in an acrimonious year which saw Alonso depart the team.

"I do not want to be Hamilton," Vandoorne reportedly told La Gazzetta. "I want to be Vandoorne and I'll give my maximum."

Vandoorne also doesn't expect Alonso to bend over backwards to help him out during his maiden season.

"I do not expect anything from the relationship between Fernando and I," he said.

"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," Vandoorne insisted.

Vandoorne also dismissed comparisons with Max Verstappen.

"Max and I came to F1 on very different paths," said Vandoorne. "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," he added.