Hamilton fires warning as new Mercedes contract near

Lewis Hamilton says he has "all the ducks in a row" as he closes in on signing a fresh Formula 1 contract with Mercedes.

Hamilton's current deal with Mercedes expires at the end of 2023, with rumours of a bumper offer from Ferrari being rejected by both Hamilton and Ferrari themselves in Monaco.

Team boss Toto Wolff had floated the possibility of Hamilton needing to leave the team if their performance didn't improve, but Hamilton's preference has been to remain with the Brackley-based squad.

Hamilton revealed after finishing second in the Spanish Grand Prix that talks were going to be held with Wolff about fresh terms, and says he is "in a really great place" in his life."

Hamilton's hunger to compete

"I think my hunger has never really shifted, I would say," Hamilton explained to media, including RacingNews365.com, when asked if the improved performance of the W14 had reignited his hunger to compete.

"I'm in a really great place in my life, and I think I'm really happy where am in my life.

"I've got all the ducks in a row, where I'm really able to focus, and have a great, great team around me both off track and on track.

"There's great stuff that's happening with Mission 44, a great team in London working on that, and we're starting the impact.

"I've got a great team of engineers here, I've been with [Peter Bonnington] for a long, long time, and what Bono and Mike and all the guys are doing is such a fantastic job.

"I feel fit and healthy and [the Spanish GP] was a very solid race for me.

"I want to keep going for as long as I can, but I want to be where [Max Verstappen] is, or racing him at least.

"So there's super focus on getting to that point, but there's a long way to go, but there's time."