The seven-time world champion’s current deal expires at the end of the upcoming 2023 season but both Hamilton and Mercedes have outl❀ined their desire to agree a contract extension. 

Hamiltonꩲ, who turned 38 earlier this month, is expected to sign a multi-year deal that will see him compete in F1 past his 40th birthday. 

• Hamilton’s huge contract demands at Mercedes are “without foundation”

Although Hamilton has no plans to quit just yet, he has already acknowledged the challenge he will face when the time does com🎶e to stop racing. 

“It will be really hard wh𝔉en I stop racing,” Hamilton told the On Purpose podcast. “I have𝕴 been racing 30 years. What can match that? 

“Nothing can match being in the stadium, being at the race, ꧒being at the pinnac👍le of the sport, coming through the grid.

“When I do stop there will be a big hole. I am trying to find things to replace that, that♉ will be just as rewarding, like Mission 44.

“That is w🌠ay more 𓃲rewarding than winning the race.”

Hamilton has already started to pursue other interests in the fashion and music industy as h🍃e begins to consider life without racing, but the adrenaline-junkie insists he is “most at peace when I’m doin💝g 200mph”. 

“I have never had that fear [of speed],” he said. “If you go on a sk♏i slope and see kids go by, kids are generally fearle🐭ss, right?

“As you get olderℱ and hurt yourself a little bit, you protect yourse🐷lf.

“I just don’t have [fear]. It wasn’t something that w🥃as necessarily put in me. I am terrified of spiders!

“But when I’m doing 200mph that’s when I am most at peace. I am flowing. I’m in mꩲy element. 

“There is a natural ability, right? I can focus for an hour and 45 minutes wit🌱hout making mistakes.”