McLaren boss Zak Brown refuses to rule out Lewis Hamilton return as he seeks winning formula

McLaren chief Zak Brown has refused to rule out Lewis Hamilton making a shock return to the team.

Hamilton won his maiden title with McLaren in 2008, but moved to Mercedes four years later and has since clinched two further world championships.

The Brit's former team have not won a race since his departure, with Jenson Button's 3rd in Australia in 2014 their only podium in four seasons.

Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne will be tasked with ending that winless streak next season, and Brown is confident the pair can deliver.

"I will move heaven and earth to have the best two race-car drivers in our car," the New McLaren boss told Sky Sports. "Right now, we have them and Stoffel is going to be outstanding. Lewis is an awesome driver who has a great history here and I certainly wouldn't rule anything out. But right now, I'm happy with what we have."

Meanwhile, newly-crowned Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg has dismissed debate about Hamilton’s tactics in the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as “pointless”.

Race winner Hamilton slowed down late in the race to enable the chasing pack to close up on race runner-up Rosberg, who only needed to finish in the top three for his maiden title win.

But Rosberg said: “It’s a thing of the past and it’s fine.” He also said he “respected” his team-mate because they were “really good friends back in the day”.