Lewis Hamilton still has 13 months remaining on his contract with Mercedes, however, like several drivers in F1, he is waiting to see what the Silver Arrows have planned following the introduction of the new regulations for the 2021 season.
Earlier in the week Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff even warned that the team might call it a day in F1, as he insisted that while they have a desire to remain in the sport, nothing is guaranteed.
And while Hamilton hinted that he is open to staying the with German works team, he is aware Ferrari and Red Bull are also interested in him as well.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Red Bulls’ Max Verstappen have both yet to commit their futures to their teams, which in turn leaves open the possibility of several of the sport’s big name drivers moving seats for the 2021 season.
But while Hamilton, who secured his sixth F1 world title this season, would prefer to get his contract sorted out quickly, he has admitted he is in no rush to do so.
“As soon as we decide we are going to continue together, we’re kind of joined at the hip,” Hamilton said.
“But of course you need to set some time aside to think about where we are. What is the next goal? What else are we planning?
“I’m sure, once you have put something in place, you think ‘damn it, I could have done this, this could have been better’ and you have to apply this to the next one.
“It’s about trying to have as much foresight as possible. It’s not about rushing things. I don’t like rushing things.”
Mercedes have had another fantastic season after they claimed another clean sweep of the driver’s and constructors titles, but Hamilton has admitted that another factor in his decision to stay could depend on Wolff’s career decisions.
The Austrian has been linked with a move Liberty Media, the current owners of F1, and Hamilton has said he will be waiting to see what happens.
“As a figurehead, you have got to have the right people in place — and he is and has been the right person, the perfect match — so naturally I don’t want him to leave if I’m staying,” Hamilton said about Wolff.
“It is important for me. I’m waiting to see where he is.”
Although it is still not guaranteed that Mercedes will still be in F1 at the beginning of the 2021 season, and Wolff, speaking to Autosport about Mercedes’ involvement with the introduction of the new regulations, said: “Everything indicates that we will stay. But it’s not a given.
“We are in the middle of discussing the new Concorde Agreement. In connection with this, and independently of it, we are discussing the development of the automobile and its effects on sport.”