McLaren would welcome Hamilton back

McLaren executive director Zak Brown has claimed that his team would welcome Lewis Hamilton back with open arms, with the current world champion having spent a successful period with the Woking outfit previously, and insisted that there is not one team who wouldn't want him behind the wheel.

Hamilton spent time with McLaren earlier in his career, and became the youngest world champion in history in 2008 with the team, before moving on in 2012.

Brown has confessed that McLaren would welcome him back if he does not sign a new contract with Mercedes beyond the current F1 season, even if it means reigniting the team-mate rivalry with Fernando Alonso.

"There isn't a team in the pitlane that wouldn't be interested in having Lewis drive for them, us included," the McLaren director claimed.

"Fernando would have anyone as his teammate,"

McLaren have been dogged by engine reliability issues in recent seasons, and have not won a constructor's championship in 20 years. It is unlikely that Hamiltion would rejoin the team if the engine isn't up to scratch, but Brown is confident that they will improve now that they have Renault parts instead of Honda.

"We should be the team that has the biggest improvement from last year to this year. If we are a second behind Red Bull, that will not look good, I agree.

"Perhaps we don't have the advantage of looking at as many car concepts as they can, but we do not believe we have any excuses or disadvantages."