Lewis Hamilton is hoping he can sign his next contract with Mercedes before Christmas, affirming negotiations will resume immediately after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
The seven-time World Champion has not yet penned an extension beyond the 2020 season, however it is widely expected that Hamilton will remain with Mercedes next year.
Talks ramped up between the two parties after Hamilton won his seventh title in Turkey, but the matter was put to one side after the Briton was benched with Covid-19.
After returning in Abu Dhabi and securing third at the final race of the campaign, Hamilton affirms he is ready to resume discussions with the team and settle the situation before Christmas.
“We would love to get it done before Christmas,” Hamilton said.
“I plan to be here next year, I want to be here next year. Us as a team have more to do together, more to achieve in the sport, more outside the sport.
“So I hope we can begin, this week, discussions and get it tied up before Christmas.”
With the 2020 season now concluded, Hamilton says the year has been one of his hardest since joining the sport, as he has had to navigate through the emotional consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This year, for me personally, it’s been one of the hardest years, if not the hardest year,” Hamilton said.
“We’ve all dealt with isolation, we’ve not been around people, there’s been a great loss of life.
“Life is not normal, I’m grateful that we got to race, and these races can take a lot out of you. I think it’s a great achievement that Formula 1 have got us back racing.”
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