LEWIS HAMILTON TO NEGOTIATE NEW F1 CONTRACT

Lewis Hamilton wants to continue in Formula 1 but will take his time over finalising a new contract.

The British driver, who clinched his sixth world title at the US Grand Prix, is almost certain to stay at Mercedes.

“When you’ve been with a team for so long, we are kind of joined at the hip,” the 34-year-old said. “All that detail can take its time, but you need to set some time aside to say ‘where are we, what’s the next goal, what else are we planning?”

Hamilton’s current Mercedes contract runs until the end of the 2020 season.

Speaking before this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, he said one of the issues on which he is looking for an answer is the future of team boss Toto Wolff, who has been linked in some quarters with a potential move to running Formula 1.

“It’s a difficult one because I know being stuck in one position for too long can not always be a positive so I always want people to spread their wings and do what is best for their careers. Only he knows what that is,” Hamilton said.

“But as a business you need to have the right people in place and he has been the right person - it has been the perfect match.so I don’t particularly want him to leave if I’m staying in the sport but ultimately that’s going to be his choice.”

Hamilton said he was not especially looking forward to the negotiations because “it is just confrontation, isn’t it?”

He added: “It’s almost like I only just did this contract and I already have to start talking about the potential of the next one.

“It won’t be really stressful but it’s daunting when you think about it coming up, also because you are committing to a period of time and it’s sometimes hard to think that far ahead but of course it’s nice to be wanted and hopefully soon we’ll get that sorted.”

Wolff is not in Brazil for this weekend’s race, missing a Grand Prix for the first time since he took over as Mercedes motorsport boss in 2013 as he stays in Europe attending to other issues.

“Nothing really changes for us within the team. he will be missed on the pit wall and his input through the weekend will be missed but we are still here to do a job and our focus doesn’t shift. He’ll still be watching so you can still get in trouble from the headmaster.”

All that detail can take its time, but you need to set some time aside to say ‘where are we, what’s the next goal, what else are we planning?