Lewis Hamilton insists he will stay at Mercedes and denies Ferrari approach

Lewis Hamilton has insisted he will continue to race in Formula One at Mercedes, with a new contract expected to be signed within weeks, and has denied a report that Ferrari had approached him with an offer to join the Scuderia. The seven-time champion’s contract with Mercedes ends this year but he dismissed the rumours as speculation.

Hamilton has persistently reiterated his intention of staying with the team, with whom he has won six championships. However, earlier this week it was reported that a Ferrari bid would potentially match his £40m-a-year Mercedes salary and involve a swap with their driver Charles Leclerc moving to Mercedes. Speaking before this week’s Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton rejected the story and confirmed he expected negotiations with Mercedes’ principal, Toto Wolff, to conclude in a new deal shortly.

“Naturally, when you are in contract negotiations there will always be speculation and ultimately unless you hear it from me then that’s what it is,” he said. “My team is working closely behind the scenes with Toto and we are almost at the end of having the contract ready.”

Hamilton answered with a blunt and unhesitant “no” when asked if he had been approached by Ferrari. He also rejected suggestions that Mercedes’ poor form in the past two seasons was playing a part in his decision-making process.

“No, it doesn’t have a bearing because we are still a championship-winning team,” he said. “It’s just we have the wrong car, there have been some decisions that have been made over the past two years that have not been ideal and we are working our way through that.

“I have got a great team in the background that are doing all the [negotiating] work so I can focus fully on the job at hand. I say what I want and