Lewis Hamilton has confirmed he will hold contract talks with Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff following his podium at the Spanish Grand Prix. The seven-time F1 World Champion joined the Silver Arrows for the 2013 season and helped the team achieve the most dominant spell for a Constructors in the sport's history, securing every championship but the 2021 Drivers' title in an eight-year span from 2014. Whilst performances have dropped since F1 introduced a new set of technical regulations last season, Hamilton and Mercedes have worked tirelessly to improve their machinery, culminating in a double podium finish behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Hamilton's future has come into question with rumours pointing towards a potential bid from Ferrari to land the Briton, despite his own desire to remain with Mercedes for life. Yet despite constant back and forth between Hamilton and Wolff over the past 12 months when discussing how simple it would be to get the deal done, a contract has not yet been signed beyond the end of the season. Asked if he would return with the Brackley-based outfit in 2024, Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365.com : "We are thinking of meeting with Toto tomorrow, so hopefully we can get something done."
Red Bull danger
"I think we are going in the right direction and I know we have something in the pipeline moving forward," Hamilton added. "I am hoping by the end of the year... It would be great if we could challenge them. "I am more focused on making sure we have the car next year to challenge them from day one. "The further we continue to push this car this year, the more that impacts next year also in some ways. The more we learn about this car, that sets us in the right direction. "So it is trying to find the right balance, they are so far ahead and ultimately Max will continue to win this year. That means they can start on their development for next year earlier than anyone else if they haven't already. "That's the danger. So we have got to keep working harder."
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