Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Reuters

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Ending speculation about future intentions, Lewis Hamilton stated that he expects to sign a new contract with Mercedes before Christmas.

Hamilton, who finished third in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after making return from a bout of coronavirus, said talks with team chief Toto Wolff were likely to start in the next ‘couple of weeks.’

“I hope we can begin this week discussions and hopefully get it tied up before Christmas,” he said while talking to the reporters after the race.

Hamilton has won six of his seven titles with Mercedes since joining in 2013. In that time, he has won 74 races, the most by any driver with a single constructor.

He has also scored points in a record 49 consecutive races, if only race starts are considered after he missed last weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix.