Lewis Hamilton has already opened talks with Mercedes with regard to signing a new deal.
Last week Mercedes confirmed they had signed Nico Rosberg to a new long-term contract, believed to run through to the end of 2016.
The German manufacturing giant is now eager to extend its partnership with Hamilton, who still has another 18 months to run of his initial three-year agreement.
Hamilton revealed last week ahead of the German Grand Prix he was “quite relaxed” with regard to his situation with Mercedes.
The 29-year-old stated he was “very, very happy in the team”, adding he felt it would be “very difficult for me to see myself anywhere else” given his association with Mercedes since the age of 13.
Hamilton, however, kept the door slightly ajar for a move elsewhere as he said: “But you never know what the future may hold.”
Hamilton, Rosberg and Mercedes are currently F1’s dream ticket as the duo have won nine of the 10 races so far this season, whilst the team is firmly on course for the Constructors’ title.
Although there have been moments of consternation for motorsport boss Toto Wolff to contend with, the Austrian is eager to retain Hamilton beyond the end of 2015.
“We are already sitting together and negotiating with Lewis about a multi-year contract,” said Wolff, speaking to Austria’s Kronen Zeitung newspaper.
– Lewis Hamilton interview: Back on the right track in pursuit of F1 glory
“Lewis is a fixed part of the team, and I would hope for a long time to come.”
Any decision from Hamilton may be some way off yet, and much could depend on the outcome of this year’s title fight with Rosberg.
Hamilton has fallen 14 points adrift after Rosberg’s win on home soil at Hockenheim on Sunday, although the Briton deserves full credit for limiting the damage after a stirring drive from 20th to third.
A qualifying crash following a right-front brake disc failure again put Hamilton on the back foot in his duel with Rosberg.
Hamilton required acupuncture ahead of the race, and this week will also have physiotherapy prior to competing at a circuit he has made his own in recent years, the Hungaroring just outside Budapest.
Hamilton has won four Hungarian Grands Prix from seven attempts, and the last two in particular, so completing a hat-trick to go into the sport’s summer break on a high would provide him with a huge tonic.
“I’m not going there with any concern about maintaining my record,” said Hamilton.
“I’m simply going there to win, as was the case ahead of the weekend in Germany. I went into it with the right mentality and preparation.
“But things happened and got in the way. That’s not to say I want luck or wish for luck. I never pray or wish for that. I just don’t want anything like that.
“All I hope is the car sticks together so I can go out there and do the job.”
Meanwhile, Jenson Button has conceded to an over-reaction in his criticism of Hamilton following Sunday’s German Grand Prix.
Button initially claimed Hamilton’s performance at Hockenheim to be “strange” as his former McLaren team-mate was involved in a trio of minor collisions en route to finishing third from 20th on the grid.
One of those involved Button at the hairpin as an attempt by Hamilton to pass culminated in the latter losing the front-wing endplate from his Mercedes.
Hamilton believed Button was letting him through, with the incident proving costly as a clean pass would likely have resulted in him finishing behind Rosberg.
But upon reviewing the accident, Button has now had a change of heart.
Via Twitter, Button said: “After watching the race back think I over-reacted with my feelings about Lewis’ move.
“I can understand why he thought I was giving him room.”
Button followed up with a picture of their coming together, adding: “Amazed we both got around the corner!!”
