Hamilton's plan to be a life-long partner with Mercedes is "super appealing"

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that being a life-long partner with Mercedes "is super appealing" as he plans ahead for his final years in Formula 1 and beyond.

Hamilton's current £40million-per-year contract expires at the end of the year, and it appears highly likely he will remain with the team that has helped him win five of his six F1 titles.

Hamilton recently stated in an Instagram post he later deleted he is with his "dream team", and that "there's not a thing in my way as I’m not trying to move. I’m with the people who have cared from day 1. We are the best team!"

Should Hamilton put pen to paper on a new deal, he already has in his mind certain possibilities as to the way ahead.

Dismissing suggestions of driving for Ferrari as "a short-term thing", Hamilton said in a Sky Sports interview: "Ferrari's an incredible team, the cars are always beautiful.

"I've not seen what Mercedes has done for all their drivers. Sir Stirling Moss was a part of the team, but they honour that and you become a part of a legacy, and a life-long partner, which is super appealing.

"A lot of the plans Mercedes has in moving forward, and something which is really important for me, is sustainability and the impact we are having.

"Our footprint, for example, we're working very closely on how we can be the pioneers within Formula 1, to be a carbon-neutral team, working with Mercedes on their goal for 2039, to really be the pioneering leaders, and I want to be a part of that.

"Naturally we all have to be aligned, and I think we have that."

Since joining Mercedes, Hamilton has been allowed to be himself, and to work on external projects such as his fashion and music.

Such elements will again be vital come the time he and team boss Toto Wolff sit down to discusses the nuances of a new contract.

"People complain about this extravagant life I live - I just work a lot," insisted Hamilton.

"When I joined the team it opened up doors to be able to do things.

"I have a partnership with Tommy [Hilfiger]. If we hadn't have had this earlier discussion, Tommy wouldn't be a part of our team, and I wouldn't be able to do the great things I've been doing.

"So it's just small bits we have to tweak here and there which enable those things that don't take away from the primary goal, which is to win world titles.

"Every year your life is moving, and your plan for your next five years is always different.

"I'm going into potentially what is my last period of time in my sport, so of course you want to maximise financially, so it's more about the results, about the journey, and obviously the destination, and the other things you are also doing."

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