Runaway victor Hamilton wants more challengers this F1 season

Lewis Hamilton wants to have more challengers, instead of just his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, when he starts his Formula One title defence this season, as he claims that the more people he gets to race against, the 'merrier' it is.

Hamilton had an intense battle with Rosberg last year as their title scrap went down to the final race in Abu Dhabi. But everyone else lagged way behind and Mercedes were mostly unchallenged, winning 16 out of 19 races and finishing nearly 300 points clear in the constructors' championship.

Hamilton said that he always wants to make sure there's a fight, adding that the battle he and Rosberg had last year was really good fun, but he claimed that the more people he gets to race against the merrier, The Independent reported.

The Briton's fight with Rosberg last year on the track grew so bitter at times that it tested a friendship dating back to their teenage years racing karts against each other.

Nonetheless, Hamilton said that he is ready for a repeat of his contest with the German.