Hamilton, 38, is in the final season of his current contract with Mercedes although🐽 he and team principal Toto Wolff have always insisted a new deal is inevitable.

But, Jenson Button and Damon Hill speculated that the new contraℱct remains unsigned because Hamilton is waiting to discover the progress of Mercedes’ sub-par 2023 F1 car.

“I don’t plan on being anywhere else.”

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1)

But a post on social media from Mer🍸cedes, alongside a picture of their star driver, said: “I don’t plan on being anywhe💙re else.” 

Hamilton previously addressed Button and Hill’s comments: “People creating rumours wi🦋thout facts is never helpful. You’d have thought they’d both know me b🍬y now.

“I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13. I had a difficult year last year and I’m still here. Should I have a difficult year this year, I﷽’ll ꦡstill be here. I’m a fighter and we fight as a team. I love the challenge.

"Of course I wish to be 💙starting the season with a great car but it's the journey I think that really counts.”