McLaren star "confident" he won't move elsewhere next year
Last Updated: November 28, 2011 4:57pm
Hamilton: Likely to stay with McLaren
Lewis Hamilton has indicated he will almost certainly sign a new deal with McLaren next year.
A troubled 2011 season finally came to an end for Hamilton in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, with the 26-year-old signing off in subdued fashion with his first mechanical retirement of the year.
Hamilton's Brazilian Grand Prix ended on lap 46 with a gearbox failure on his McLaren just as he seemed set for yet another encounter with Ferrari's Felipe Massa.
However, in contrast to the demeanour Hamilton displayed prior to his victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix just over a fortnight ago, the 2008 world champion departed Interlagos in an upbeat mood.
Hamilton has already started turning his thoughts to a more positive 2012 when his future is likely to be the subject of great debate given his current deal expires at the end of next year.
But Hamilton sees no reason why he should move, even though it is highly likely seats at Ferrari and Red Bull will also be available in 2013.
He said: "What is most important for me next year is getting back to where I should be - to the good performances, to winning, to enjoying life, enjoying the year.
"I'm at a positive place within myself. Things are getting better, and I just want to continue on this path because it would be good.
"I don't think there's any question of my commitment to the team, so there's no real rush to have to do anything. I'll just focus on the year."
Asked if he felt it was more than likely he would stay, Hamilton said: "Yeah, I do. I'm confident about that.
"(McLaren team principal) Martin (Whitmarsh) has already spoken to me about re-signing, so I know it's there at some point, and I guess at some stage when we have time we'll sit down (to discuss it further).
"But the most important thing is to focus on the season ahead."
Love affair
As Hamilton has been with the team since he was 13, team principal Whitmarsh feels it is hard to see him going anywhere else.
"By his extraordinarily high standards he has had a difficult year, but he's in a positive place right now," Whitmarsh said.
"There is a deep affection between him and the team and I'm sure that love affair will carry on for many years to come."
There was a point just over a month ago when Hamilton was in such a despondent mood it almost seemed as though he was contemplating walking away.
Whitmarsh had no such concerns, adding: "He's a racer so I didn't worry about it.
"I've known him since he was 11, 15 years, so I want to see him happy and contented.
"He's a great driver in this team, but he is still a young man I've seen grow up from this high (indicates about three feet from the floor).
"It sounds corny if you start calling them your children, but he is a man, a great asset, and he deserves to be happy, to be enjoying his enormous talents in his career.
"I'm fairly confident we'll find a good way forward so that in years to come he's going to be very, very great as a driver and he will win plenty of races for McLaren, I'm sure."
For now, Hamilton can at least look forward to a few weeks off, relaxing and recharging his batteries.
"I'm massively excited (about the break). I'm looking forward to going into the winter," said Hamilton.
"I'll take all my time to recover and channel all my energy into next year."
Too intense
Unlike last year when Hamilton went to the United States to train in the mountains, this time he is to remain in Europe where he will be devoting far more time to what he now knows is more important.
"I'll make sure I enjoy it more," said Hamilton.
"I was a bit too intense last year with my training and that meant I had less time for other people around me.
"I was out six hours a day training, six days a week so I had less time to enjoy it in between. I was tired or I was having lunch or sleeping.
"But you get a lot of energy spending time with people you love and enjoying yourself and relaxing, so I'm going to see if there is a way I can balance it."
Credit: Sky Sports (www.skysports.com)
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