It is not certain Lewis Hamilton will stay at McLaren beyond this year, according to 1996 World Champion Damon Hill.

Although 2008 title winner Hamilton regularly pledges his loyalty to the famous British team, his contract runs out this year and last season he had talks with Christian Horner in the Red Bull motor home.

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes Photo by: xpb.cc

"It may be he will seek to move from McLaren," pondered 51-year-old Hill, according to the Telegraph.

Earlier this week, former Williams driver Hill urged fellow Briton Hamilton to better manage his F1 career alongside his often troubled private life.

Part of improving that focus might involve leaving McLaren, suggested Hill, referring to the Woking based team that began grooming Hamilton for F1 stardom when he was a boy.

"It (leaving) may be something he feels he needs to do, which will be a bit like leaving home as he's been there since he was 13," said Hill.

"If I was Bernie (Ecclestone) I would probably want to see Lewis at Red Bull with Vettel."