Lewis Hamilton says he wants to get his next Mercedes Formula 1 deal𝕴 finalised “before Christmas” as he insists he has “more to achieve” both in and outside the sport.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the year but a renewed deal has always seemed a formality, despite continued delays to negotiations between the Briton and Mercedes and his suggestion in Imola that there was no guarantee he would continue in F1 next sꦰeason.

Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff said ahead of last month’s Bahrain Grand Prix that he expected a deal was unlikely to be agreed before the end of the season, with talks being put on hold again after Hamilton contracted coronavirus and was forওced to skip the penultimate round꧂ of the season.

Speaking after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the posꩵt-race FIA press conference, Hamilton reiterated his desire to continue racing with Mercedes in 2021 and beyond.

“Hopefully over the next c🌞ouple weeks,” Hamilton replied when asked when he planned to sit down and thrash out a de🎃al with Wolff to end the long-running saga over his future.

"We’d love to get it done before Christmas. I plan to be here next 𒉰year, I want to be here next year and I think us as a team have more to do together, more to achieve 🌞both in the sport but even more outside the sport I think.

“I hope we can begin discussions this week and get it tied up bef💝ore Christmas.”

Wolff is himself out of contract at the end of 2020 but has indicated he will continue𝕴 on in his current role for 🍷at least another season.

The Austrian has also rulꦇed out the suggestion that Mercedes could sw♛ap Bottas and Williams driver George Russell for 2021 after qualifying on Saturday.