Hamilton wants McLaren to keep teammates together

Amid all the talk about their possible defections, Lewis Hamilton has urged McLaren to keep him paired with Jenson Button "for another three years".

"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it," the 2008 world champion told the Mirror newspaper at Valencia.

"I’d love to race alongside him (Button) for another three years," said Hamilton.

While the ’silly season’ predicted a move to Red Bull for Hamilton while Ferrari was reportedly eyeing Button, McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh had already indicated that he wants to keep the British team’s lineup together.

More immediately important for Hamilton at Valencia is getting a solid result under his belt after a run of collisions and criticism.

Earlier this weekend, he said he believed entirely in Ayrton Senna’s famous quote about racing drivers needing to unquestionably "go for that gap".

Hamilton however said after qualifying third: "When I am behind someone, if I have been thinking once or twice, I will definitely think a third time before making a manoeuvre.

"That’s a part of growing. It’s important I finish every race," he added.

But his old nemesis Fernando Alonso, who is immediately behind Hamilton on Sunday’s grid, hopes his British rival keeps up recent habits.

"I’m right behind Hamilton and just hope he takes out the Red Bulls at the first corner," the Spaniard is quoted as joking to Speed Week.