The Irishman made his position clear in the wake of uncertainty surrounding Mika Hakkinen's future with reports suggesting the Finn was about to retire at the end of the current campaign.

McLaren have yet to announce their confirmed line-up for next season, increasing speculation the two-time world champion could quit at the end of the current campaign.

"Mika's a very different person from me," Irvine said at a Jaguar news conference to announce the continuation of his team's sponsorship deal with HSBC bank.

"I've known Mika since he was probably 17 or 18 and he's done what he thinks he probably can achieve.

"He's won two world championships and is probably not going to win another one unless he wants to stick around for a long, long time.

"So maybe that's what he thinks and he's going to say 'right, enough's enough'. But I haven't achieved what I want to achieve.

"So that (retirement) is not something that even crosses my mind to be honest."