London, Apr. 17 : Formula One racing champion Lewis Hamilton will stay on at McLaren.

The world champion pledged his support for the under-fire team's new regime as manager Ron Dennis stepped down from all grand prix activities.

Dennis, 61, insisted his decision to go had nothing to do with McLaren's appearance before motor sport chiefs over the Aussie Liargate scandal.

He said the timing was "purely coincidental" and all about becoming chief executive of their new sports car business.

McLaren have to answer charges that they lied to race stewards in Melbourne last month at the World Motor Sport Council hearing in Paris on April 29. Hamilton had threatened to quit the team if McLaren were banned from races by the WMSC, reports The Sun. (ANI)