Lewis Hamilton has set the target of finally concluding a new Mercedes contract for 2021 by Christmas.
As he signed off from his historic seventh title-winning year with a third-place finish in the Abu Dhabi GP, attention turned to Hamilton’s contract situation with his current deal at the world champions due to expire in just over two weeks’ time.
Hamilton, who has long expressed his desire to continue his hugely-successful association with Mercedes, has never previously left a contract renewal this late but talks have been delayed by the rapid-fire nature of the F1 season since July, restrictions around the coronavirus pandemic and, over the past fortnight, the world champion contracting the virus and being sidelined for a race.
