Tears and cheers accompany Hamilton's homecoming

WOKING, England: Newly-crowned Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton made an emotional return to the McLaren headquarters on Wednesday and promised the adoring workforce that he would stay with the team.

The factory, 32km south of London, produced the car he drove in Sunday's nerve-shredding finale in Brazil and the 23-year-old Briton arrived in it to a roar of adulation.

F1's youngest world champion was blinded by a sea of flashing cameras as he mounted a platform groaning with the trophies accumulated from the last two seasons - 22 podium finishes from 35 races.