Hamilton has faith in McLaren decision

"I'm really not bothered who I am racing with," the championship runner-up told Reuters on Monday at the launch of 'Lewis Hamilton, My Story', a book chronicling the road to his stunning debut Grand Prix season.

"It's another team decision and I stick by them whoever they choose. I'm very happy I've got one seat. I get to stay and do what I love doing."

Hamilton tied with double world champion teammate Fernando Alonso on points but will be the main focus of the team in 2008 after McLaren announced on Friday the Spaniard was leaving.

Alonso's relationship with the team deteriorated into silence and recrimination after the first few races of the year when it became apparent McLaren were not going to give him favoured treatment.

"I wish Fernando the best for the future and really hope wherever he goes he is successful. But I'm going to be there competing against him and I look forward to the battle," said Hamilton.

"I welcome whoever is going to be with us and look forward to the challenge," he said when asked about possible replacements. "I hope they work as hard as me to take the team to the championship.

"I will be working as hard, if not harder, than I did this year to make sure I stay ahead."

Hamilton has mentioned Germany's Nico Rosberg (Williams), Adrian Sutil (Spyker) and Finland's Heikki Kovalainen (Renault) as likely candidates to join him.

However all three are under contract and, Rosberg aside, relatively inexperienced.

"To be in the team, and it could be football or cricket, you have to be able to all gel together and work and bring the team together," said Hamilton.

"Whoever comes, we just need that again to keep up the momentum we've got."

He saw no reason why his teammate should not be another youngster.

"If you look at football, there are young football teams ... the new generation is coming through and there are quite a lot of young, talented drivers there," he said.

Hamilton had been backed by McLaren for a decade before he entered Formula One, with the book shedding more light on that emergence from unpromising beginnings, and he will be even closer to the team next year.

"It's always been my team. I arrived here this year and I felt I was part of the team," said Hamilton.

"It's the team I'm with, it's the team I want to be with, the car I want to be driving, and where I want to be. I definitely feel part of the family.

"I hope next year will be even more exciting. I really can't wait to get back in the car."