Hamilton wants new Mercedes deal by F1 summer break to avoid another 'ruined winter'

Lewis Hamilton has called on Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to sort his future by F1's summer break in a bid to avoid another 'ruined winter'.

Due to a variety of issues last year - the pandemic, the condensed calendar, Hamilton contracting Covid-19 - the seven-time F1 champion's discussions with Wolff did not start in earnest until the beginning of this year.

Hamilton finally put pen to paper in early February but only on a one-year deal as both he and the team left the door open for potential retirement at the end of this season.

The 36-year-old, however, has discovered a renewed lease of life via his title fight with Red Bull's Max Verstappen and is ready to commit himself to a longer deal with Mercedes.

Hamilton, though, has made clear he wants to re-sign over the next three months by the time F1 starts its summer break in August.

"We never want to be in the position that we were in January, in February," reflected Hamilton. "It ruined my whole winter.

"I’m sure it wasn’t helpful for Toto’s, in terms of being off and relaxed, so it felt like we didn’t really have much of a break.

"I think we have to be sensible. Naturally, we don’t have to rush anything but I think we have to be sensible and start conversations.

"They’re very complex, it’s never a super simple procedure and so hopefully soon we can start, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the actual job.

"We still have 19 races to do but it would be great to get something in place before the break so then we could be in that break and have a clear picture of the future."

At 36, Hamilton is proving "there’s still some life in this old dog" as he has appeared to be at the top of his game so far this season in going head to head with Verstappen.

In collecting three wins and a second-place from the four races so far, Hamilton holds a 14-point cushion to the Dutch driver, and he claims he could not be in better shape for the season ahead.

"I would say I’m more conscious than ever about my body, about my training regime," added Hamilton.

"I’ve been training myself for a long time now but constantly growing and learning how to look after the vessel that I’ve been given and I'm feeling great."

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