Hamilton keeping Mercedes waiting over new deal

Lewis Hamilton says he is happy to continue stalling on a new Mercedes contract. The world champion's deal with the Silver Arrows expires at the end of 2018, but he is yet to commit his future to the team, despite their insistence that a contract is ready to be signed.

Although Hamilton and Mercedes appear calm over the prospect of a deal being agreed, his joking over potentially joining Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix and former world champion Damon Hill's suggestion that he may have an eye on retirement have set tongues wagging.

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says he is not yet considering drivers outside of the Mercedes stable for 2019, with Hamilton perhaps looking to be partnered by Valtteri Bottas or Esteban Ocon.

That is, of course, providing Hamilton does remain, but he says there is nothing standing between him signing the new deal other than his desire to do so.

"There isn't any sticking points," Hamilton said. "There just hasn't been any rush.

"I told you at the beginning there's no rush to do it and I would do it in my own time. There's no discussion with anybody else, there's no consideration for anybody else, it's just taking my time.

"I just don't see any need to rush. I still have a contract in place, I'm enjoying racing, it's nice to keep you guys guessing what's happening.

"There's not really much more to say really. There's not really much more to say.

"It's a great process that you go through with a contract but I just tell my people there's no rush. If it's not ready this week, and it's not ready the week after, it's not ready... no stress. I'm not going to stress about it."