2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton believes the cost cuts agreed last week will make it 'very tough' for him to retain his world title in 2009, as F1 looks to safeguard the future of the sport amid the global economic downturn. Hamilton's McLaren team is widely regarded as one of F1 biggest spenders, with annual budgets comparable to those at Ferrari and Honda. However, unlike Honda, the vast majority of McLaren budget is made up of sponsors' dollars.

“I don't think it will make it easier,” Hamilton said of the cost cuts that will come into effect from 2009. “With the new regulations it's going to make it very tough to win the championship again.

“We have less testing obviously but I think we as a team are in a position to pull together and make a difference in some other way,” Hamilton continued. “But everyone's in the same boat.”

Hamilton also said that he expects to be fighting at the front regardless, along with teams like Ferrari and BMW Sauber. “We don't know who's going to be quick, surely we're going to be at the front, with Ferrari maybe, BMW, but you never know,” he said. “Maybe there's going to be a fourth team up there with us.”