Hamilton is in the last year of his current deal and is so far yet to announce an extension with the German manufacturer, despite repeated indications inꦗ recent months that such an outcome would be a formality.&🧸nbsp;

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted Hamilton would have to consider leaving the team if they cannot deliver a competitive carꦗ in the coming years but stressed h🐻e is “absolutely confident” a new deal would be agreed.

The 38-year-old, meanwhile, moved to shut down s♊uggestions he could leave, insisting a decision over his future would not hinge on Mercedes’ level of performance after the eight-time constructors’ ch꧟ampions followed up their miserable 2022 campaign with another poor start to the 2023 season. 

When did Hamilton renew his previous contracts? 

Intriguingly, out of the five F1 contracts he has signed with Mercedes, negotiations over th🦩ree dragged on until the summer months. 

Following months of speculation and wrangling, H൲amilton signed his first contract extension with Mercedes - a three-year deal - days before the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2015. 

The Briton’s future was once again a major talking 🍰point fo💃r months on end until he committed to Mercedes with a new two-year contract that was announced ahead of the 2018 German Grand Prix. 

Hamilton was technically a free agent for a brief sp🦩ell 🥂before his next deal was signed in early February 2021. 

Having opted to postpone talks over a new contract to🍰 focus on his successful bid to win a record-equalling seven world title in 2020, Hamilton signed a one-year deal to keep him on the grid for 2021. 

Five months later in J𝐆🏅uly, Hamilton was again putting pen to paper on his current deal that was announced at the Austrian Grand Prix. 

Only one of Hamilton’s last four contracts was signed during the off﷽-season, with the rest all being confirmed either in the build-up to, or during, a mid-season race weekend.

Previous years would possibly sug𓂃gest that the continued ♍wait for firm news about Hamilton’s future isn’t necessarily abnormal. 

Hamilton looks to emulate Moss 

At the Saudi Arabian Grand 🔯Prix, Hamilton said he plans to emulate the late Stirling Moss by remaining linked with Mercedes for the rest of hi🅰s life. 

“I continue to feel very mu𝓀ch at home. It’s family. I see myself being with Mercedes till my last days, to be honest," he said.

"If you look at the legends🌱, Sir Stirli🌞ng Moss was with Mercedes till the end of days.

"So, that's been the dream for me to one day have that… well I have that, so I mean j🥀ust continue on with that and continue to build with the brand.”

Hamilton continued: "I've got some amazing al🌠lies. I've got great relation📖ships here. 

"I think, for me personally, just as long as I can continue to help the team, as long as I can continue to help drive the team forwards and really contribute, then that's wh🅷y I want to stay.

"If there's ever going to be a point where I feel like I'm not able to do th⛄at, then it's time for a youngster to come in to take my seat. But I'm still pretty young, in pretty decent shape."