06 July 2023 , 15:50
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Lewis Hamilton declared he will be be "well into" his new Mercedes contract before the end of this year.
In the absence of any major silly season lines, the Brit's contract situation has become the saga of the season so far. A renewal has been described as imminent on several occasions, but no new paperwork materialised.
Most recently, Toto Wolff said ahead of last month's Canadian Grand Prix that it was a matter of "days" until Hamilton signed. Several weeks on, the seven-time world champion remains in the last six months of his current deal.
That may still change soon, though. In any case, Hamilton says he plans to have his future resolved officially long before this campaign is over.
Asked at the British Grand Prix if he is basing his contract decision on Mercedes' performance by the end of this year, Hamilton replied: "No, no, that's not at all what I'm thinking. Before the end of the season I will already be well into the [new] contract.
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"I still have 100 per cent faith in this team. It's taken longer for all of us to get to where we want to be and it definitely hasn't been easy, but I still believe that we will get there.
"We just have to continue to work and chip away at it. That's what we're trying to do. That's why we have the upgrade here on the front wing and we'll have bits in the following races too.
"It couldn't have come soon enough. I'm pushing as hard as I can. We had big meetings earlier this week, speaking with the head of aero and head of vehicle dynamics, also with next year's car in mind."
Lewis Hamilton is preparing for the British Grand Prix (Getty Images)Last week, team principal Wolff gave some insight into what is left to be done before the paperwork is signed. He said: "I'm still very confident [of striking a deal]. They want to do it super, to every detail and sometimes you can have a situation where everything is carved out.
"This is not a money discussion at all. It is about the future, what is it that we want to do right and optimise? We're not talking anything anymore about duration, money, all of that – it's other topics."
Asked about that statement, Hamilton told reporters including Mirror Sport that Wolff was correct and that the length of the new deal and his proposed salary have now been agreed.