Hamilton pledges future to McLaren

The newly-crowned world champion made the pledge in front of 1000 McLaren employees at the team's Woking headquarters as he was welcomed back from Brazil.

"I love this team, I'm going nowhere," Hamilton said. "This is the best team in the world. I'm very proud of everything McLaren have achieved.

"Even when I was growing up, when I first knew that racing was what I wanted to do, I knew that it was McLaren I wanted to drive for.

"I used to go to the old headquarters and see Ayrton Senna's championship-winning car, [Mika] Hakkinen's too. And I used to touch the steering wheels and dream that some day I'd have one with my name on and the number one on the front. And now the dream has come true."

Hamilton reiterated his desire to win at least three world titles for Ron Dennis's team, not least to get his hands on the McLaren F1 LM road car that he has been promised should he achieved that feat.

"It's the coolest car in the world and I want to earn it," added Hamilton.

Today's event at the McLaren Technology Centre followed a ten-minute firework display for the staff last night, at which the team's success was toasted with champagne, music - including 'My Way' - and a speech from team boss Ron Dennis, who was quoted as saying "well, we did it our way."

The 10-metre long entrance sign at the factory has also been changed from its usual white colour to the 'rocket red' used on McLaren's victory celebration t-shirts, and now features a congratulatory message for Hamilton.