Lewis Hamilton says he is “not rea⛦lly in a rush” to sign a new Formula 1 contract with Mercedes beyond the end of the season, adding that he wants to take 𒈔Friday’s meeting concerning the sport’s future into consideration.

Four-t⛄ime world champion Hamilton’s existing contract with Mercedes expires at ♒the end of the season, but both the driver and the team have said they are confident of extending their agreement into 2019 and beyond.

Despite 💎initially hoping to get a new contract sorted before the new season, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said in Australia talks were progressing well, with the final touches due to be put to th🐷e agreement.

Hamilton offered an update ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, saying that he remains 🍷relaxed about how talks are progressing despite being in no rush over confirmiꦚng a new deal.

“We’re still in discussions,” Hamilton said. “I’m ve🗹ry relaxed about it. There’s not really much to⛎ say. I’m not really in a rush.

"We’re just taking our time, talking about it as and when we want to it. It’s not a streꦬssful thing for eit꧑her of us.

“It’s quite an interesting time for Formula 1. Tomorrow, there’s some sort of announc🍨ement or discussions of what is happening in F1 moving forward. It’s always good to wait to hear some of those and see the future of F1.

“For surဣe that could or could not have on decisions you make in terms of length or whatever🐼 it is you end up doing in F1.”

At 33,♏ Hamilton said his new contract is set to be the most crucial he has signed in F1 so far as he nears towards the end of his career.

“The next contract is probably the most important one of my career. The last contract was the most important up until🐟 that point and then next ꦆone will be even more important than the last one,” Hamilton said.

“Also the length, your decision to how long you want to commit to⛦ being in F1, is becoming more and more important moving f𒁃orwards for me, being I’m at the latter end of my career.

“It’s one not to be rushed into. T🔯here is no rush and I will not be rushed into it.

“Ultimately, you want to have all of the informati💃on so you can make the most knowledgeable decision, I🌳 guess.”