Hailed as Britain's new sporting idol and having drawn comparisons with Tiger Woods and David Beckham, it would be easy for McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to let his rapid success go to his head.

But those who know him best say there is no danger that the rookie, who claimed his first Grand Prix win in Canada on Sunday, will get carried away with the accolades he is now receiving.

"It's about remaining normal isn't it?" Hamilton's father Anthony told Reuters after watching his son's sixth podium finish in as many F1 races.

"If you start to become someone you are not then you will fall flat on your face. It's just about being normal," he said.

Hamilton, 22, was spotted at an early age by McLaren, winning their 'Champions of the Future' competition while a schoolboy in 1996, but his father says that he showed then that he had the ability to keep his feet on the ground.

"We just took one day at a time, we were doing go-karting and that was all we cared about winning go-karts, we knew nothing about Formula One, didn't care about Formula One.

"I think sometimes maybe that is where you can go wrong -- maybe you think you are going to get to F1 but you have to pass your O-levels first that is the way I look at it," he said.

HARD TIMES

That level-headedness was apparent in the post-race press conference when Hamilton commented that his dream was to win the world championship but he was quick to point out that his path is likely to have some rough terrain too.

"There are going to be some hard times, I hope that there aren't but it's just bound to happen, it's just the way it goes in this business and there'll be good days and bad days," he said.

"But at the moment it's been consistent and that's down to the team and all the people around me. I've got a very well-grounded family and I think it works perfect," he said.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis is also confident that, with the help of his team and family, his talented driver will be able to handle the pressures of competing at the very top of the sport.

"You just know that he can cope," said Dennis, adding that his biggest concern is over-exposure to the media.

"Maybe this (win) now has sort of ticked all the boxes and we are going to have a little bit of breathing space as we move through the year but I suppose that is wishful thinking.

"The most important thing is to keep him focused," said Dennis.