Hamilton accepts Button 'man challenge'.

Lewis Hamilton appears set to compete in the Bath triathlon after being cajoled into accepting a 'man challenge' from British Formula One rival Jenson Button in the build-up to their home grand prix.

The pair joined David Coulthard in the Thursday press conference and, when the conversation turned to the relative levels of fitness possessed by each driver, the subject of Button's recent triathlon appearances - the former Hungarian Grand Prix winner having finished 117th out of 1,700 entrants, and 14th in his age group, in a semi-professional triathlon last month - was raised. With Hamilton keen to fight his corner over just how fit he was in comparison to his rival, all three drivers entered into a spot of banter that ended with DC challenging Hamilton to put his money where his mouth was - on Button's new turf....

"I'm not sure whether I could do a triathlon, so I'm not going to say that I could beat him at that, but generally I work my a*se off...," Hamilton said in answer to a question quoting him telling a recent sponsor event that he was fitter than his fellow Briton.

"You work your a*se off to be fitter than me, and you've got to believe that you're fitter than me and the same way the other way. It would be good to have a challenge."

Although Button initially offered Lewis a way out by suggesting they could find some alternative challenge, the talk quickly returned to triathlons when the Honda driver mentioned that he was intending to enter the three-discipline event in Bath later this month.

Hamilton was initially reluctant to confirm that he would take part - "I'm not putting myself into it, I don't know, I'll probably be working or doing something else. We'll talk about it personally afterwards," he suggested - but, under increasing pressure from the assembled media, and an amused Coulthard - "He's throwing down a man challenge, you can't turn down a man challenge," the Scot chimed in - eventually confirmed that he would try and fit it in to his schedule.

"I'm a competitor, so I'm one to say yes, but I've got people behind me who may...," he admitted, hinting that McLaren may be reluctant.

Button - reminding Hamilton that his Honda was unlikely to beat him on the track this season - then upped the ante by suggesting that he would put forward ?10,000 to the charity of his rival's choice if he was to beat him.

"So, there's swimming, cycling and running. How far do you have to go? What is it? Fill me in, fill me in," he enquired before responding positively to Button's description of the 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run - even when he was told that he had just three weeks to practice.

"That's not too bad," he mused, "I was just checking my calendar, so I wasn't being rude. I was trying to see whether I'm busy that day and, unfortunately, I don't think I am. No, honestly, the biggest incentive is, if I do beat you, then you've got some money for a charity which is great. However, you do have an advantage as you've already done one, and I already know that by doing one you're better the next time. But man, I'm up for it, I'm up for it.

"Okay, let's do it. It's a date!"

One man who will presumably not be joining in is reigning F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who told the Daily Telegraph that he only trains 'if I feel like it'.

"If not, I do more-or-less what I feel like," the Finn claimed. "I don't have schedules; I never do any planning. I hate planning."

Coulthard, meanwhile, initially accepted the offer to be referee of any challenge, before suggesting that he may be better suited to being a bottle-holder. The Scot announced his impending retirement from F1 at the press conference.