- Mercedes
Hamilton: Mercedes exit talk 'fiction'
Lewis Hamilton says stories linking him with a Mercedes exit are "fiction" and insists contract talks for staying beyond 2015 are not an immediate priority.
The recent news Sebastian Vettel will leave Red Bull at the end of 2014 got the rumour-mill churning in Suzuka, with Fernando Alonso's future still unclear. A sabbatical followed by a switch to Mercedes in 2016 has been mooted as a potential option for Alonso, with Hamilton's contract talks put on hold after the controversial Belgian Grand Prix.
However, Mercedes said this was done to allow Hamilton to focus fully on his championship battle with team-mate Nico Rosberg and he says he is not dwelling on his future.
"It's an interesting time in Formula One, drivers making changes, top drivers making changes," Hamilton said. "There's a lot of fiction, a lot of silly stories going around; whoever is starting those silly stories… I've always been very clear that I'm here to do a job, I'm contracted to the end of next year. We've confirmed that we're going to sit down and talk about the future at the end of the year.
"The most important thing is done. Mercedes helped me get to Formula One, I've been here since I was 13. I feel pretty relaxed but I'm also aware of what goes on in the business so I know other people are trying to intervene. All I can do is do what I've up until now, I think hopefully my performances speak for itself."
Hamilton arrives in Russia looking to achieve his second fourth consecutive win of the season, after achieving a similar run of victories between Malaysia and Spain. Though speculation about his future continues, Hamilton says this is more than enough to distract him from rumours in the paddock.
"To be honest I'm not really thinking about that stuff much. There's really only two things really on my mind; I'm fully focused on the championship. It's been a real surprise really, I'm very happy about it - just thinking about the racing. I'm not actually sitting here thinking 'OK, I've had three wins [in a row]', I've not actually thought about that but I think if I do reflect on it it's been incredible.
"I remember some years, you get one win and then don't get another for ages. It's very surreal this year, a period of time where you get two wins in a row, or three, or four; it's like no other year I've ever experience in my racing career. It's been great. And then the rest of my mind is thinking about Jules [Bianchi] and his family."
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