Lewis Hamilton undeterred by Mercedes slump

Mercedes have failed to score a point in the three races since Lewis Hamilton made his decision to join them next season but the McLaren driver says their slump has only made him more determined.

It makes me even more driven to help them score points, the 2008 Formula One world champion told reporters ahead of Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

I'm very happy with the decision I made. It doesn't impact on that. People do sometimes lose their way, even we have struggled in the past, and not scored points, added the 27-year-old Briton.

Hamilton, who has been at McLaren all his F1 career, will replace Michael Schumacher at Mercedes with the 43-year-old German retiring after a comeback lasting three years.

The former Ferrari great has not scored in his last four races while Nico Rosberg has not been in the top 10 since Singapore, the race before Hamilton was announced as his future team mate.

By coincidence, Hamilton's replacement at McLaren - Mexican Sergio Perez - has not scored either in his last three races for Sauber.

Hamilton has said repeatedly he does not expect to be winning straight away with Mercedes next year and is looking more to 2014, when new regulations and engine are introduced.

I already knew how big it was going to be, he said of the task. I really thought about it hard, and I could see how big it was.

Perhaps it's growing, but as a task I'm really excited about it, excited to meet new people and to being in a different environment, and to mould myself into that environment.

GUNS BLAZING

The McLaren driver remains mathematically in the 2012 title race by the slimmest of margins - 75 points adrift with a total of 75 still to be won.

To take the title he will have to win every race while Red Bull's championship leader and others fail to score another point.

... contd.

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