LEWIS HAMILTON has reiterated his desire to drive for McLaren for the rest of his Formula One career after yesterday signing a five-year, multi-million pound contract.
The deal, rumoured to be worth £10million per year, catapults him into the realm of the highest-paid sportsmen in Britain and comes as a result of his astonishing rookie season.
The fact Hamilton came within a point of winning the world title to t
his day astounds boss Ron Dennis, and so it comes as no surprise the 23-year-old has put pen to paper on one of the longest deals in F1.
Despite the furore last season when McLaren were fined a sporting record £50million for being in unlawful possession of bitter rival Ferrari's team secrets, Hamilton had no qualms in signing up.
"Whilst last year was my first with the team in Formula One, I have been connected to McLaren and Mercedes-Benz since 1998," said Hamilton, who only celebrated his 23rd birthday 12 days ago.
"I feel that I could easily drive for this team for the whole of my Formula One career.
"I am with the right team to compete for race wins and both the drivers' and constructors' world championships in the future.
"We will have a lot of challenges ahead, but I am 100 per cent positive I am with the people to take them on, and with the first of those challenges the 2008 season.
"We have 57 days to go until the lights go out on the grid at Albert Park (for the Australian GP). We are motivated to make the most of this time and arrive in Melbourne with a competitive car."
For McLaren and Hamilton, a trouble-free season would be welcomed after the rigours of 2007 when the politics and rivalry with then team-mate Fernando Alonso occasionally overshadowed his achievements.
Yet when it came to negotiations, Hamilton's father and manager, Anthony, had little trouble in agreeing terms.
Anthony feels the faith and belief McLaren initially had in Lewis after first signing him up when he was 13, has now been mirrored by his son.
"McLaren provide the best opportunity for his career in the long term," said Anthony.
"It is amazing to have been signed by McLaren and Mercedes-Benz back in 1998, and to be given an opportunity to achieve a better life than one would ever have dreamed could happen.
"It is also a fantastic feeling to have put all our faith and belief into the team, and here we are today in a great partnership."
The full article contains 435 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
