(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-10-23 09:19

SAO PAULO - McLaren's Lewis Hamilton said on Monday he wanted to win the Formula One title on the racetrack, not weeks later on appeal.

"It would be wrong," said the 22-year-old Briton, still suffering the effects of a heavy night out after letting the title slip from his grasp by one point in Sunday's season-ending race in Brazil.

Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen (R) shakes hands with British Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren Mercedes-Benz Formula One team said Sunday night it was ready to appeal a stewards decision at the Brazilian Grand Prix, keeping alive Hamiltons F1 title dream. [Agencies]

"For me, I want to win it on the track," he told reporters in his hotel room. "You want to do it in style, you want to win the race, you want to win battling it out for the lead or something in the race.

"Being promoted after some people have been thrown out is not the way I want to do it."

The rookie, Formula One's first black driver and the title favourite before Sunday's race, lost out to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen after finishing seventh on a nightmare afternoon at Interlagos.

Raikkonen won the race but the Finn's first title was overshadowed by a stewards' enquiry into the three cars that finished ahead of Hamilton.

McLaren have said they intend to appeal against the stewards' subsequent decision not to penalise Williams' Nico Rosberg and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica for fuel temperature irregularities.

The aim would be to lift Hamilton above them in the classification, securing the points he needs to become champion instead.

The Briton, winner of four races in a sensational debut season, said he would feel uncomfortable with that.

"It would feel weird after Kimi did such a fantastic job in the last two races," he said.

"He won yesterday and to have it taken away is a bit cruel and probably not good for the sport."

Hamilton, who had led team mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso by four points and Raikkonen by seven before Interlagos, paid tribute to his team and supporters.

"Last night was good and (team boss) Ron (Dennis) did a speech and we had a great evening and just sort of rounded up the whole year," he said.

"It has been a phenomenal year and the support from the team makes it just a real pleasure for me to be a part of the team.

"I'm extremely proud of them and extremely proud of my family and everyone that's just supported me to get me where I am today.

"Later on in the evening yesterday I felt it (the defeat) more for sure, it's tough on everyone but there's always another year," said Hamilton.

"I'm only 22, there's going to be plenty more opportunities for me to win the world championship and I have no doubt that we can do that in the future."