Lewis Hamilton says he still has “100% faith” in Mercedes despite their continuing struggles this season.
But the seven-time champion confirmed his team boss Toto Wolff’s claim that their discussions over a new contract were moving towards a conclusion.
“It is taking longer for us to get where we want to be,” said Hamilton, who has not won since the penultimate race of 2021.
“I believe we will get there. We just have to work and chip away at it.”
Hamilton, whose existing contract runs out this season, said Mercedes’ struggles since new regulations were introduced in F1 in 2022 had not made him question whether he wanted to stay in the sport.
“That’s not what I’m thinking,” said Hamilton, “because the end of the season I will be already well into the contract.”
Hamilton said Mercedes had the next step in their upgrade programme to be introduced at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, where a record 480,000 spectators are expected from Friday to Sunday.
“We have the upgrade here with the front wing and will have bits over the following races,” he said. “It couldn’t come early enough. And I am pushing as hard as I can. I was in the factory Tuesday and Wednesday in meetings, with the head of aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics on what is in mind for next year’s car.”
After last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix Wolff said negotiations over a new contract for Hamilton were “not at all a money discussion, it is about a future and what do we want to do right and optimise.
We are not talking any more about duration, money, all of that; it is other topics”.
Hamilton confirmed those thoughts on Thursday: “That’s correct.”
And he said their relationship had not been affected by Wolff coming on the radio in Austria in response to Hamilton’s focus on other drivers beyond him to tell him: “We know the car is bad. Please just drive it.”
Hamilton said: “The best thing about our partnership is we can be direct with each other. He was just trying to encourage me. That was his way of doing it.
“I have reviewed my comments and where I was at mentally and I will make sure I adjust that for the future.”
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