Lewis Hamilton hopes his new deal with Mercedes will be signed before this weekend’s Malaysia Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion is in the final few months of the three-year deal he signed in late 2012 to join the Silver Arrows from McLaren.
Negotiations were put on hold by Hamilton ahead of last year’s Russian GP to allow the Briton to concentrate on his title duel with team-mate Nico Rosberg.
Talks resumed during pre-season testing this winter and the partnership which secured both championships in 2014 looks set to be extended.
“It is going back between the lawyers so hopefully it is done before the weekend,” Hamilton told Sky Sports News HQ.
“That would be great, but if not in due time.”
The interminable delay in Hamilton putting pen to paper has prompted speculation that the 30-year-old could be considering a bombshell switch to Ferrari. Whirling the rumour mill into life on Monday, The Daily Mail added fuel to the fire by declaring that ‘the Scuderia’s president, Sergio Marchionne, rates Hamilton top of the drivers available to him'.
Hamilton is no stranger to unexpected transfers. But while his decision to abandon McLaren for Mercedes caused a seismic shock at the time, the transfer was underpinned by the Englishman’s belief that the Silver Arrows were the more likely team to deliver a championship-winning car – an instinct which has been emphatically vindicated in the last 15 months during which time Mercedes have emerged as the sport’s new dominant force and McLaren have regressed into the doldrums.
After clinching his second world championship last year, Hamilton began the new 2015 campaign in perfect style in Melbourne last week with victory ahead of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.
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