Hamilton plays down chats with Horner, Domenicali

Lewis Hamilton has played down his conversations with rival team bosses Christian Horner and Stefano Domenicali at the Canadian grand prix last weekend.

Media reports have made much of the fact that, with his contract expiring next year, the highly rated 2008 world champion sought out the Red Bull and Ferrari chiefs in the Montreal paddock.

But Hamilton, speaking as he swapped his McLaren car for Tony Stewart’s NASCAR at the Watkins Glen circuit for a PR stunt, said those sorts of social chats are entirely normal.

"I know all the managers, the bosses, all the teams. I know Stefano Domenicali, we chat all the time.

"I’ve known Christian since I was in the lower series ... and I used to speak to him back then. I spoke to a lot of people last weekend," explained the 26-year-old.

Hamilton insisted he is "very fortunate" to be a McLaren driver and played down suggestions he is eyeing a team switch.

But he admitted: "I’ve definitely not achieved all that I want to.

"So as long as we have the car that can do the job, then there will be no reason to leave."