Lewis Hamilton CONFIRMS he will open new contract talks with Mercedes in ‘next few weeks’ and calls team his ‘family’

LEWIS HAMILTON has confirmed he plans on extending his contract with Mercedes and race in Formula One into his 40s.

The seven-time F1 world champion, 37, has a contract at Merc until the end of 2023, guaranteeing at least another season.

And despite previously saying that he did not envision himself racing at that age, Hamilton plans on staying a little longer.

Merc team principal Toto Wolff revealed that talks had already begun with his star driver over a new deal, which Hamilton revealed to be true.

Merc’s car has been far off the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari this season, with Hamilton or team-mate George Russell yet to win a race.

And the Silver Arrows’ eight-year constructors’ title streak came to an end at the United States Grand Prix with Red Bull wrapping it up.

The torrid season won’t see Hamilton walk away, with the legendary Brit determined to stick by Merc, who stuck by him from the ace of 13.

He told Motorsport.com while in the States: “We are going to do another deal.

“We’re going to sit down and we’re going to discuss it in these next couple of months, I would say.

“My goal is to continue to be with Mercedes. I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13 and they really are my family.

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“They’ve stuck with me through thick and thin. They’ve stuck with me through my mistakes, and s**t that’s been in the press.

“I believe in the people that are within the organisation. And I want to be the best teammate I can be to them, because I think we can make the brand even better, more accessible, even stronger than it is. And I think I can be an integral part of that.”

As for how long Hamilton stays in F1, in search of a record-breaking eighth world crown, is yet to be seen.

However, Hamilton says he’s looking into his next “three-to-five-year plan”.

He continued: “I’m trying to analyse my year and analyse my next three-to-five-year plan. It’s difficult to do 10.

“Where do I see myself? What are the things I want to do? What are my goals? And I’m adding in lots of business things.

“I have a lot of successful, really positive things that have lots of opportunity for success outside.

“But I want to keep racing. I love what I do. I’ve been doing it for 30 years, and I don’t feel that I should have to stop.

“I think I’m currently still earning my keep, I would say.

“I want to do better, still. But I am planning to be here longer.”

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk