Reigning Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton believes that BBC show Top Gear will not be the same without host Jeremy Clarkson.

On Wednesday, the BBC confirmed that it will not renew Clarkson's contract following an "unprovoked, physical attack" on one of the show's producers.

Hamilton has featured on the motoring programme in the past and has had his say on the news that Clarkson has been dropped.

In his BBC Sport column, Hamilton wrote: "Because I've been away for some time, I haven't really been following what's been going on with Jeremy Clarkson.

"All I can say is that Top Gear is a great show, people love it all around the world and I have very much enjoyed being on it and driving the reasonably priced car. I hope the show continues, but it's hard to think of it without him because, really, Jeremy is Top Gear."

Meanwhile, Hamilton is preparing for this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.