Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says he's confident Lewis Hamilton won't copy Nico Rosberg and leave without notice, after the 2016 champion walked out of the team just days after winning his maiden title.
At the time the move angered many within Mercedes, most notably Niki Lauda who said Rosberg had left the team looking "stupid" as they scrambled to secure a replacement at the last minute.
Although Hamilton's contract ends next year and the Briton has been dropping hints that he may soon retire, negotiations to secure his services for another three seasons are underway which would keep Hamilton at the team until 2021.
Whilst Hamilton, like Rosberg, would be free to walk away, Wolff is confident that won't happen as long as the team work to keep him happy and make sure he's enjoying what he's doing.
"I think Lewis is a free spirit," Wolff told ESPN. "Lewis doesn't want to be put in a box with people saying, 'You need to behave like this and do this to be a racing driver'.
"One of the key things for him is to be free and be able to decide what he wants to do. And in a certain way, keeping all the options open is something that takes pressure off of him.
"He could be doing something completely different in a year or two or three's time and I am aware of that, but equally I know he will protect the structure and not just say, 'I'm out of here tomorrow'. But this is part of his strength actually."
Wolff confirmed contract talks were going well, with a new deal expected to be announced mid-2018.
"They have started already and we are on a good way. Let's see when the white smoke comes out of the chimney."
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