This year, the seven-time world champion is under contract with Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton has guaranteed fans that he will sign a contract renewal with Mercedes, stating that only a “catastrophic” event could prevent him from doing so. The seven-time world champion then joked that he will fight team principal Toto Wolff if an agreement is not reached.

Hamilton’s remarks came amid rising worries that the 38-year-old is prolonging discussions, with former world champion Damon Hill claiming that Hamilton is stalling. The British celebrity has responded to Hill’s remarks and gave a humorous update on the contract discussion. We will enter the ring unless something horrible happens to me and Toto, he remarked.

Several analysts believe that Hamilton is delaying a contract agreement with the Silver Arrows until it becomes clear how competitive their new W14 model is compared to Red Bull and Ferrari. After vocally criticizing Mercedes’ car, Hamilton did not win a Grand Prix race and placed sixth in the driver’s championship last year.

Yet, Hamilton is certain that the contract will be renewed, as he added: “Obviously, I’d like to begin the season with a fantastic car, but there are no issues with the contract. I’ve always been really calm, and I don’t feel rushed to complete the task at hand. I am in a privileged situation. There will eventually be a period when it is signed.

“Toto [Wolff] and Mercedes and I have a wonderful friendship, and we constantly support one another. I am quite enthusiastic about the future and extremely pleased with the work we’ve accomplished on and off the track. We will eventually arrive.”

In preseason testing in Bahrain last week, the new Mercedes failed to match the speed of its competitors. Nonetheless, Hamilton is optimistic that the issues that plagued his club last season have been resolved before to the start of the new season this coming weekend.

He added: “When I drove the automobile, I was aware of our location and the obstacles we would face. The absence of the bouncing this year is a significant plus. While experiencing bouncing, it was tough to comprehend what the issues were. Now we can concentrate solely on performance.

“I find it encouraging that everyone is so intent on getting us back on top. Obviously, we are not where we intended to be at the beginning of the season, but I still believe in this multi-championship winning club and good bunch of individuals.”

Hamilton to suffer more Verstappen misery but Brit should get Russell revenge

This weekend marks the start of the 2023 Formula One season, with the Bahrain Grand Prix kicking off the year’s 23-race schedule. Red Bull are the preseason favorites for both championships, with Mercedes trailing their competitors. In the latest Great Debate, the Express Sport team predicts which teams and drivers will set the pace and who will be left in the smoke.

Who will win Drivers’ Championship?

Max Verstappen. As much as I enjoy going against the grain, there is nothing I can do to stop him while Mercedes struggles to provide Lewis Hamilton the power to compete with the flying Dutchman. I anticipate a closer race between him and Charles Leclerc this year, with Sergio Perez also posing a more formidable challenge.

Who will win Constructors’ Championship?

I believe this could be the year that Ferrari finally wins the Constructors’ Championship. The driver pairing of Leclerc and Sainz is undoubtedly the strongest on the grid, and with Mattia Binotto’s perplexing strategy calls no longer a concern, the Scuderia should be able to score significant points provided their dependability holds up.

Will Lewis Hamilton defeat George Russell at Mercedes?

Yes. We are all aware that Hamilton will be suffering from his worst season ever, but he sacrificed his personal races to assist build the car for the second half of the season. This year, the W14 should be faster, allowing him to fight for race wins beginning in Emilia Romagna, and I believe Hamilton is the faster driver.

Any surprises or bold forecasts?

Fernando Alonso, at the age of 41, is still astonishingly swift, and he will be anxious to impress with his new team, Aston Martin, which demonstrated good speed in testing. My audacious prediction is that Alonso will finish seventh in the driver’s standings, which would place him above of both Alpines and McLarens. Perhaps a podium for the cunning Spaniard?