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Hamilton not looking to jump ship

Lewis Hamilton has reassured his team he is not looking to go elsewhere © Sutton Images

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• Drivers:
• Lewis Hamilton
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• Martin Whitmarsh

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• McLaren

Lewis Hamilton has denied he is looking to switch teams if McLaren fails to deliver this year.

The combination of Hamilton taking on new management and the McLaren showing poorly in pre-season testing has led to reports he will leave the team if it cannot produce a winning car this year. But the 2008 champion, who has been with McLaren since he was 13 years old, said he immediately reassured his team boss Martin Whitmarsh that was not the case when he read the stories.

"I've spoken to Martin today because I wanted to reassure him that I am here at McLaren, that I am committed to the team, committed to winning," Hamilton told the Press Association.

"This is where my heart and mind are. I'm not thinking about going elsewhere, I don't have my people (his new management team) going elsewhere and doing any other talking. I try and put myself in other people's positions, to understand how they would feel. I think that's important.

"I can imagine how I would feel if I heard stories that they were looking for another driver to replace me, it would be upsetting and distracting, and I kind of assume that may have been the case. So I wanted to make sure I put that right, and that's why I spoke with Martin."

Hamilton's current contract runs until 2012 and, although he did not completely rule out a switch at some point in his future career, he said he was entirely committed to McLaren for the next two years.

"Of course, I'm going to be in Formula One for some time, and you never know which way the wind will take you," he added. "As I said, for now, I'm committed to trying to make this team the most successful it can be, and I feel we can do that."

Whitmarsh said he had not been too concerned about the speculation but thanked his driver for setting the record straight.

"Lewis did come to see me today, not that it was necessary," said the McLaren team principal. "It wasn't something I was going to raise with him, but it was nonetheless still nice for him to want to clarify his passion and restate his commitment to being in the team."

"You glance through the headlines and you see lots of things, but you don't spend too much time dwelling on them. He knows we will have highs and lows in any season, but he also knows this team is committed to winning.

"We're a great team, we enjoy working together. There are always plenty of challenges in this sport, and that's what we are here for. Obviously he has grown up with this team, we have had some great times together, and I'm sure we're going to have some great times together in the future as well.

"Lewis has grown and developed in self-assurance and his manner in the years I've known him, and has a genuine affection for the team and the people in it. It's great he is comfortable, enjoys the environment and working with the people in this organisation."

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