World champion Lewis Hamilton said talks with Mercedes will start in the new few weeks about his signing a new contract for the next season. Picture: Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton ended speculation about future intentions on Sunday when he made clear he expects to sign a new contract with Mercedes before Christmas.
The newly-crowned seven-time world champion, who finished third in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on return from a bout of Covid-19, said talks with team chief Toto Wolff were likely to start in the next “couple of weeks”.
“I plan to be here next year, I want to be here next year,” Hamilton told reporters after the race.
“I think us, as a team, have more to do together, more to achieve both in the sport an even more outside the sport.
“So, yes, I hope we can begin this week discussions and hopefully get it tied up before Christmas.”
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Hamilton has won six of his seven titles with Mercedes since joining in 2013.
In that time, he has won 74 races, the most by any driver with a single constructor.
He has also scored points in a record 49 consecutive races, if only race starts are considered after he missed last weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix.
On Sunday, he admitted he felt “destroyed” by the after-affects of the coronavirus and was well below his best in the race at the Yas Marina Circuit won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Wolff said Mercedes’ defeat – Valtteri Bottas finished second ahead of Hamilton – meant they departed Abu Dhabi with “a slap on the wrist” following a below-par display.
Verstappen came home 16 seconds clear of Bottas at the end of the team’s most comprehensive beating this year.
“We are leaving this race with a slap on the wrist,” said Wolff.
“It wasn’t a good weekend for us.”
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