Lewis Hamilton has dismissed allegations that he may be set to walk away from Mercedes at the end of 2023. The seven-time World Champion's contract with the Silver Arrows expires at the end of this year, following a 2022 season in which Hamilton went winless for the first time in his F1 career, as Mercedes struggled with the sport's new aero regulations. Hamilton's failure to agree a new deal prompted former World Champions Damon Hill and Jenson Button to suggest that the Briton is waiting to see if the Silver Arrows’ 2023 car is competitive before committing his future further. However, Hamilton scotched those rumours and reaffirmed his commitment to Mercedes, with whom he has been affiliated since the age of 13. Since arriving in F1 in 2007, the Briton has only ever driven cars powered by Mercedes engines. "Ultimately, it’s people creating rumours without facts," Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365.com , when asked about Hill and Button's comments. "It's never helpful, and you would have thought that [Hill and Button] would have known by now. "I've been with Mercedes since I was 13. Having a difficult year, like we had last year, [I'm] still here. Whether or not we have a difficult year this year, I'll still be here. "I'm a fighter, and we fight as a team. I love the challenge of finding solutions and trying to still believe I'm able to put the car in places that perhaps others are not able to, and I love that challenge."
Hamilton contract 'will get done'
Hamilton also implied that a new contract with Mercedes would be in the offing, citing his strong relationship with both the company and Team Principal Toto Wolff. "Of course, I wish that we start the season with a great car, but it's the journey I think that really counts," said Hamilton. "There is no holdout with our contract. I've always been very, very relaxed. I don't feel like I have to get it done right this second. I’m in a very fortunate position. It'll get done when we're ready. "I have a great relationship with Toto and with Mercedes, and we fully support each other, and I'm really excited for the future together. I'm really proud of the work that we're doing on and off the track and the potential things that we can do moving forward."
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