LONDON - McLaren's Lewis Hamilton plans to start the Formula One season under new management after a year-long search for the right person to take care of his business affairs.

"Nothing has been signed or fully firmed up," said the 2008 world champion after giving Reuters a breathtaking blast around a wet southern English airfield circuit in a fiery orange McLaren MP4-12C sports car.

"But I'm really hopeful in the next week or so we should hopefully have an announcement... definitely before Australia," he added.

"It's a big decision to sign with someone for a period of time, but I'm confident with what I'm going to do, so you'll find out very soon."

The season starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 27.

Hamilton has been without a manager since he and his father Anthony decided this time last year to end their business relationship.

That partnership had been one of the closest in the sport, with Hamilton senior guiding his son through the various junior series since Lewis started out in karting at the age of eight.

The 26-year-old driver told Reuters last October that the move to distance himself professionally from his father had been difficult for the whole family but was not one that he regretted.

Anthony Hamilton is likely to be more of a presence in the F1 paddock again this year since he now manages British rookie Paul di Resta, who will be making his race debut with Force India in Melbourne.