A Mercedes recommitment 'in coming weeks' as Hamilton snuffs Ferrari speculation

Lewis Hamilton has denied being offered a Formula 1 contract by Ferrari and expects to sign a new Mercedes deal "in the coming weeks".

Hamilton's future in the sport is under the spotlight, with just six months left on his current £40 million-a-year deal.

It was reported in the build-up to this week's Monaco Grand Prix that Ferrari is preparing a bid to land Hamilton in a blockbuster transfer.

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But when asked on Thursday if the Italian giants had been in touch, Hamilton replied: "No. When you are in contract negotiations, there is always going to be speculation, and unless you hear it from me, that is all it is.

"My team is working closely behind the scenes with (Mercedes team principal) Toto (Wolff), and we are almost at the end of having a contract ready.

"This is the first time that I have not been negotiating myself. I have a great team in the background that does the work, and I focus on the job on hand.

"I say what I want, and that is what we are working towards so, hopefully, in the coming weeks [it will be decided]."

Impending upgrade

Hamilton, 38, will get his first taste of a major Mercedes upgrade in practice on Friday, which the seven-time world champion hopes will haul him up the grid.

Hamilton qualified 13th at the last race in Miami before driving well to finish sixth, but he is already 63 points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the championship standings.

However, Hamilton insisted Mercedes' dethroning as kings of the F1 road would not impact his decision to re-sign with the Brackley side.

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"We are still a championship-winning