F1: Hamilton hopes to avoid 'poisonous' teammate

Lewis Hamilton has told Mercedes he is willing to take on any driver as his teammate next season but has warned the team to avoid pairing him with someone who could have "a poisonous effect."

Nico Rosberg's decision to retire from F1 with immediate effect has left one of the most coveted seats on the grid available in 2017, with Mercedes having won the last three titles in dominant fashion. Hamilton will remain with the team next year and is waiting to find out who his teammate will be, with Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso publicly ruling themselves out of a move as they are currently under contract with Ferrari and McLaren, respectively.

Hamilton endured a tumultuous season alongside Alonso at McLaren in 2007 (pictured above) and has urged Mercedes to make sure it picks a teammate who will help maintain harmony within the team, even though he says he is happy to take on anyone in the same car.

"I recently commented and it came online saying that, 'Lewis doesn't care who his teammate is,' which is a little bit out of context," Hamilton told British broadcaster Channel 4. "It's important who we have in the second car. It's important for the team's morale.

"We've seen in other teams at times where it can be a poisonous effect on a team, the arch-rivalry between drivers. For sure, that's really important, because I'm really happy here. I love being where I am and while, OK, there have been some interesting scenarios, we generally always pull through.

"So we've got to make sure that whoever we bring is at least as good as what we had before, if not better, in terms of creating that energy. I've had experience of certain divisions in the past which I would strongly advise not to have that scenario in a team. But what I meant is I will drive against any single driver you want [choose].

"Ultimately, when they decide – which is their decision – they can put any driver in. Bring Sebastian, bring Fernando, bring whoever you really want. I drove against Fernando in my first year and I beat him, so that's not a worry for me.

"I'm happy to drive against any of them, but in terms of what's best for the team, probably not the best idea."

Hamilton confirmed he would be involved in the discussion over who his teammate is next season, but insists he will only give his opinion rather than veto any choice.

"Contractually what they have to do is ... basically, once they dwindle it down to five drivers or whatever it is, the shortlist, contractually they have to discuss it with me. But I don't have a say who it is."