Lewis is the future Hill on Hamilton

Hamilton, 21, has been signed by McLaren to partner Fernando Alonso.

"People will give him the leeway and the benefit of the doubt for that first six months," Hill commented.

"But then, at the end of the season, if he hasn't outpaced Fernando at one point or another, people will be saying 'Where is it? Where's that spark?'"

Speaking during a visit to the Autosport International Show in Birmingham, Hill continued: "You have to accept those that have gone on to become great drivers - like Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna - they arrived and went 'bang'.

"They were on the scene, on the pace, outpacing their team-mate - and they were there right from the word go.

I think Lewis has a proven track record in GP2, and he's been well coached and guided by a very professional team in McLaren and Ron Dennis Damon Hill

"So it is fair to say there is a little pressure, but I don't think Lewis Hamilton is the sort of person who under-estimates that. I think he understands that and respects that.

"He's got a window of opportunity to learn, but it's going to be a short one."

Hamilton is the reigning champion of the GP2 feeder series but David Coulthard, now with Red Bull Racing, has questioned whether he is ready for a seat with McLaren.

Hill, however, believes Hamilton is capable of making a bigger impact than Coulthard did when he was a young driver in F1.

"Lewis is the future. He's going to be in F1 for a good few years, and let's hope that Lewis has more success and makes more of his opportunities," said Hill.

"You have to say it's now possible to reflect on DC's career in that respect. I think it's not well founded, that assessment.