Hamilton extends contract with McLaren until 2012

Jan 18, 2008, 16:50 GMT

Woking, Britain - Lewis Hamilton has extended his contract with McLaren-Mercedes until the end of the 2012 season, the Formula One team confirmed Friday.

The 23-year-old finished second behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in last season's drivers' championship in his rookie season.

'Whilst last year was my first year with the team in Formula One, I have been connected to McLaren and Mercedes-Benz since 1998 and feel that I could easily drive for this team for the whole of my Formula 1 career,' said the Briton in a statement on the team's website.

'I am with the right team to compete for race wins and both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships in the future. We will have a lot of challenges ahead, but I am 100-per-cent positive I am with the people to take them on. The first of those challenges is the 2008 season.'

No financial details about the deal have been released but team principal Ron Dennis said McLaren was delighted to have tied Hamilton down to a longterm contract with better conditions.

'Given Lewis's performances over the course of the 2007 season, it is clear that improved financial terms were fully deserved and this formed part of the friendly negotiations with Lewis's manager Anthony Hamilton (his father),' said Dennis.

'Lewis is an exceptional human being, on both a personal and professional level, and will continue to be a credit to this team.'

Hamilton will partner Finland's Heikki Kovalainen in the 2008 season.