Watch out for harder times, Haug tells Lewis

(GMM) Norbert Haug heralded Lewis Hamilton's second consecutive career pole position at Indianapolis but warned the British rookie to also expect tougher times.

McLaren's championship leader Hamilton continues to live up to his hype in his first formula one season, outpacing his teammate Fernando Alonso on Saturday despite the world champion dominating the other sessions prior to qualifying for the US grand prix.

"Lewis is riding on a wave," Mercedes' competition chief Haug told the German broadcaster RTL, "but – without wanting to be negative – I must also say that more difficult times for him will come.

"Only then will we see if he is a genuine championship prospect.

"Everyone has only good things to say about him now, but perhaps soon the time will come when nobody is interested in him.

"You also have to be able to deal with that as well."

Haug, though, admitted that 22-year-old Hamilton has exceeded even the team's own expectations for his first season on the grid.

"He is a giant talent and he has a good team," the German said. "In this game everything must fit, or the achievements do not come."