Hamilton’s current deal with Mercedes expires at the end of this season and, despite negotiations for an extension rumbling ꦦon for months, it still hasn’t been signed.

But aᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚt the F1 Dutch Grand Prix, where Hamilton dreams of ending Red Bull’s winning streak on Max Verstappen’s home turf, he gave a blunt update over his contract talks.

“I’m staying where I am,” .

“It just takes time. We just had this break, as well. In this break, no-one has been thinking about it.🐭 Hopefully it will be do♔ne soon.”

A reporter asked: “What is missing?”

’s David Croft assessed the situation: “Hamilton could retire now and live comfortably for the rest of his life, knowing he would leave this sport as one of the greatest drivers, if not the greatest driver, that we’ve ever seen.

“Iℱf he’s talking about staying at Mercedes, I think the belief is there.

“I don’t t🦩hink the trust has ever disappeared, I don’t think the belief has ever disappeared, between Lewis and the team.

“Why would it, given what they’ve ﷺgiven h💎im since 2013?

“Things aren’t signed but there’s no discord, no problem that’s stopp🦩ing him༺ signing.

He’s not going to go an꧋ywhere else, I don’t the seats are there to give him a world championship crack.

“So staying at Mercedes is his No1 option because that will give h🐟im the best chance. He can’t get a seat at Red Bull because Checo Perez is staying alongside Max Verstappen.

“I’m glad he’s saying 🍃that he’s going to stay, becauseꦏ nobody who’s a fan of Formula 1 wants to see Hamilton retire just yet.”

Rumours of a big-money offer from Ferrari have been dismi🍒ssed by both the Italian manufacturer aღnd Hamilton.

And ✅reports that Hamilton's demand for a 10-year p♈ost-racing role was scuppering a new agreement have previously been rejected by Toto Wolff.