Dennis praises 'exceptional' Hamilton.

McLaren-Mercedes boss Ron Dennis has hailed his prot?g? Lewis Hamilton after he clinched the 2006 GP2 Series title with one race of the season remaining.

Although the manner by which claimed the title, claiming a rogue point for fastest lap when it was taken away from Giorgio Pantano long after the race was over, was not ideal, Dennis was full of praise for the 21-year-old, lauding his 'many outstanding performances' on the way to the title.

"We are delighted for Lewis and his latest success in winning the 2006 GP2 Series at Monza," he said. "The manner of his many outstanding performances this year, such as those at Silverstone and Turkey, has been phenomenal and he is a deserving Champion. McLaren and Mercedes-Benz's ongoing involvement in Lewis' career began in 1998 and he is getting better every day, a trend that has been constant during the past nine years."

McLaren-Mercedes and Ron Dennis in particular have been a crucial factor in Hamilton's rise through the ranks over the years, supporting him financially and managerially. It was a combination that helped him to his dominant F3 Euro Series triumph in 2005 when he took a Mercedes powered ASM car to an exceptional 15 victories out of 20 races amongst impressive competition.

It is this strong link, not to mention his GP2 success in his debut season, that has seen him become the subject of endless rumours over a possible seat alongside Fernando Alonso in McLaren next season.

Nonetheless, Dennis is keeping speculation to the bare minimum, only confirming that the seat will indeed come to down to a decision between himself, Gary Paffett and Pedro de la Rosa and that some kind of confirmation will be coming 'in due course'.

"Lewis has an exceptional talent, which has been demonstrated this year, and his overall performance during the season gives you a definite sense of pride and satisfaction. In due course the team's and Lewis's plans for 2007 will be announced."

Furthermore, Dennis told Reuters that, with the GP2 title sealed and the season all but over, he fully intends to put Hamilton into a McLaren-Mercedes for a maiden test before the close of the F1 year.

"I'm pretty sure he's testing before the Chinese race," he concluded.