Hamilton wants F1 debut with McLaren

The Briton is among the favourites to become Fernando Alonso's teammate in 2007 if McLaren lose Kimi Raikkonen, and earlier this week team boss Ron Dennis said that he believed Hamilton would 'definitely' be in F1 next year.

And although previously it had been thought likely that Hamilton would be loaned to another team, the Briton has said he is doing everything he can to ensure that he gets his chance with McLaren.

Speaking to this week's Autosport, Hamilton said: "I'm feeling more and more ready for Formula One, that's for sure. I want to race for McLaren.

"If that opportunity comes up, I want to grab it with both hands. So I'm really working my arse off to make sure that I have every possible opportunity.

"And I think if I keep on winning and performing like I did last weekend, they will find it hard to say no to me - unless someone like (Michael) Schumacher comes along."

McLaren have traditionally shown themselves reluctant to take on rookie drivers, with the latest driver making his F1 debut for the team being Jan Magnussen, who stood in for the suspended Mika Hakkinen at the 1995 Pacific Grand Prix at Aida.

The last time McLaren headed into a full season with a rookie was in 1993, when they recruited Michael Andretti.

Another possibility is for McLaren to make Hamilton a test driver for a year before promoting him to the race team in 2008, but Hamilton has said that he is determined to be racing.

"I'm a racer not a test driver," he said. "I need to be racing next year. There are benefits in being a test driver, but if you are going to do it, you need to be in a third driver role so that you test on Friday and get used to the tracks.

"I think if you take a year or two out of racing, you lose something."