Hamilton hints at new contract with Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has given his clearest signal yet that he expects to renew his Mercedes contract beyond this year and spurn a move to Ferrari, saying: “I don’t think that there’s going to be a huge amount of movement.”

While Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, had put the chance of his star driver moving to Maranello as high as 25 per cent, that possibility has narrowed in recent days, first with Mattia Binotto’s statement that Ferrari’s ideal option was to stick with Sebastian Vettel for 2021, then with Hamilton’s suggestion that he was happy to stay.

Hamilton has twice met Ferrari chairman John Elkann for informal discussions, but he indicated yesterday that he would most likely to sign a further, possibly final contract extension with Mercedes, where he earns £40 million a year.

“In the top teams, there isn’t going to be a lot of movement,” he said, after taking his latest Mercedes car, the W11, for its first laps during a private session at Silverstone. “Just get used to what’s similar at the moment. It’s a real privilege to be wanted and to stay and be part of a great team. I hope I can continue to contribute.”

He also swatted aside pre-season provocation from Max Verstappen, his potential arch-rival in this year’s Formula One title race, describing it as a “sign of weakness”.

The Dutchman had said of the famously devout Hamilton this month: “Maybe God is with him, but he’s not God.”

Asked about this “bit of chat”, Hamilton was unmoved ahead of his quest for a record-equalling seventh world championship. “I find it funny. I’ve always known to do my talking on the track. Often I tend to see that talk as a sign of weakness.”

So far, Hamilton, who follows a strict vegan diet, has been true to his promise to be a “machine” this season, disclosing that he has lost a substantial amount of body fat through his winter training camp.