Mat Coch writes:

Lewis Hamilton is better sticking with the devil he knows rather than moving to another team for 2013, says Jackie Stewart.

Out of contact come seasons end, the 2008 world champion has been the subject of intense speculation after being linked with a move to Mercedes next year. It's a rumour denied by both Hamilton's existing team McLaren and XIX Entertainment, his Simon Fuller-led celebrity management company.

The rumour emerged in the days leading up to the Italian Grand Prix, in the wake of a less than impressive weekend in Belgium where he was out-performed by Jenson Button before being caught out in a first corner accident.

Despite the denials the Mercedes rumours have not disappeared, while many believe the story was planted in order to create leverage over McLaren, with whom he is in the "advanced stages of negotiations" according to the team's Sporting Director Sam Michael.

Much has been made of Hamilton's focus over the last two seasons, while others suggest the corporate McLaren environment no longer fits with the 27-year-old. Greater freedom with his image is believed to be a key point for Hamilton.

But with a lack of top line drives available there are precious few berths for him, Mercedes the only real option despite the team's refusal to be drawn into recent speculation, prompting Jackie Stewart to suggest he's best staying with the team he's been with for almost his entire motor racing career.

"McLaren haven't been out of the top-end of motor racing now for a very long time," said the three-time world champion. "You go to Mercedes, who are a wonderful company; it would take a five-minute decision from the board for them to decide to stop motor sport should there be a problem with the economy.

"So if I were thinking long term, then I would think to stay with McLaren. I can't imagine how you could be more spoiled than being with McLaren.

"They have the resources, the money, the long-term commitment, huge experience," Stewart added. "He wouldn't be here today without them, and there is a degree of loyalty which you should always have.

But while suggesting Hamilton should stay put, Stewart can imagine scenarios as to why he would want to move. "If he is deep inside McLaren and he doesn't think they are going to do the job for him, then he should move," reasoned the Scot. "He might immediately dial the car in and get it done. Going to a new team might give him a regeneration if you like.

"(But) going to a new team would probably take him 24 months to settle down, with new engineers, new management, new cultures, new ways of doing business," the 73-year-old contended. "He's a very lucky boy because he's made huge amounts of money, and that's been largely down to McLaren, not Lewis, because they gave him the break, made him the driver he is. But money is only a tiny part of it. In making a certain amount of money you're not going to make a lot less whether you go to one team or the other.

"So it's nothing to do with money, but it's a very big decision in his career, and I think he'll stay with McLaren," Steward added. "If it's a borderline issue, then he should stay with the devil he knows best.

"I personally would stay with McLaren," he concluded. "Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't."