Hamilton hoping for new Mercedes deal by Christmas

Lewis Hamilton is hoping to sign a new contract with Mercedes by Christmas.

The seven-time Formula 1 champion finds himself in the unusual position of ending a season without another deal in place for the years ahead.

Talks have been put on hold for numerous reasons - lockdown, the 17 races packed into 23 weekends, ensuring the titles were wrapped up, and finally, Hamilton being sidelined by Covid-19.

Although Christmas is fast approaching, the two men now have a clear window of opportunity ahead to finalise terms, with the 35-year-old looking to pen to paper in the coming days.

"Hopefully over the next couple of weeks," said Hamilton when asked when he would sit down with Wolff and then announce the new deal.

"I would love...we would love to get it done before Christmas, I think. I plan to be here next year, I want to be here next year.

"As a team, we have more to do together and more to achieve both in the sport but even more outside the sport.

"So I hope we can begin this week, discussions, and hopefully get it tied up before Christmas."

With Hamilton effectively a free agent at the end of the year, Wolff was questioned as to what happens next.

“That’s going to happen," replied Wolff with regard to the talks. "There is no reason it shouldn’t happen. We will have this conversation.

“We were delayed. We always said we would do it after the title was won and then the virus delayed us for another 10 days, two weeks, so we have to sit down - maybe virtually, maybe live.”

Wolff's future is also the subject of much speculation, with rumours persisting across the year that he will leave his role as team principal to take up a different position with the automotive manufacturer.

Quizzed on this, the Austrian again gave nothing away, answering simply: “Watch this space.”

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