The seven-time F1 champion has been negotiating a new deal to keep him at Mercedes beyond the expiration of his current contrꦺact at the end of this year.

reported on Saturday night that Hamilton is “closing in” on a two-year contract worth £100m, or £50m♚ per season.

But 24 hours earlier, reported some💦thing substantially different.

They insist Hamilton wants a five-year deal worth a tota🎉l of £250m whic𓂃h would take him to his 43rd birthday.

The Mail quoted a source s🐠aying: “Lewis wants five years, and if it were just a one-year extension I don't think he'd accept it.

“They may need to reach a compromise because, while Georg🌃e (Russell) has probably made peace with the idea of Lewis being around for a couple of years, he m🔴ight not accept being in the shadow of his team-mate for the long-term.

“There is always a lure about Ferrari, but Lewis will probably think that his only hope of winn🔯ing his eighth title is by staying where he is.

“Money is not a delaying factor.”

At least both newspapers agree that Hamilton wiꦐll be paid £50m per season.

Hamilton will start the F1 Canadian Grand Prix beh🐬ind Red Bull rival Max Verstappen and Aston Martin's Fernandoജ Alonso.

It would be a spectacular night in Montreal if Mercedes could som꧙ehow end Red Bu𝓀ll’s winning streak.

James Allison, their technical director, has been talking up their ambitions for 2024 when a totally reconsidered car could reestablish Hamilton as F1’ܫs No 1 force - but only after he pens a new contract.

Both Ham꧒ilton and team꧑ principal Toto Wolff insist an agreement is imminent yet it has not arrived yet.