Lewis Hamilton reveals when he could sign new Mercedes contract after encouraging Spanish Grand Prix

The seven-time Formula One world champion is set to hold renewed talks with Silver Arrows team principal Toto Wolff in the hope of finalising a deal.

Those discussions come in the aftermath of a positive Spanish Grand Prix for the team in which both Mercedes cars bounced back from a bizarre 200mph collision in a dramatic qualifying session on Saturday in order to reach the podium places in Barcelona.

Hamilton easily outfoxed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to take second place behind the Red Bull of dominant championship leader Max Verstappen, while team-mate George Russell fought his way from 12th on the grid and held off the challenge of Sergio Perez to claim third.

It followed Hamilton and Russell getting fourth and fifth respectively in Monaco last weekend, with Mercedes clearly now benefiting from key upgrades to their W14 car.

Now Hamilton has reiterated his desire to continue in F1 for the foreseeable future, with plenty of speculation over his future and committment to the sport having swirled during a period of dominance for Red Bull and Verstappen.

The Briton says he wants to get back to the same level as Verstappen after their enthralling and controversial 2021 title battle that went right down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, starting with an extension to his Mercedes deal that is due to expire later this year. Hamilton has already dismissed any suggestion of a link-up with Ferrari.

“I want to keep going for as long as I can,” he said after the Spanish Grand Prix. “But I want to be where he (Verstappen) is, or racing him at least, and I am super-focused on getting to that point. There is a long way to go, but there is time.

“My hunger has never shifted. I am in a great place in my life, and I am really happy where I am in my life. I have got all the ducks in a row so I can focus.

“I have not signed anything yet, but I am meeting with Toto (on Monday) so hopefully we can get something done.

“We have had so many meetings. And this is another meeting. But the contract is always at the back of your mind, so once it is done then I can focus more on the future.”