• Mercedes

Mercedes plans new deal for Hamilton

Toto Wolff has confirmed Mercedes plans to offer Lewis Hamilton a new deal at the conclusion of the current season, adding that a change to the team's line-up would be "detrimental".

Hamilton's contract talks were put on hold after the hugely controversial Belgian Grand Prix, where he was given a puncture by team-mate Nico Rosberg. The reason for the delay was so Hamilton - whose current deal expires at the end of 2015 - could concentrate on the title fight with Rosberg without any distraction.

Rosberg's two-year contract extension the German signed in May means the lack of a new deal for Hamilton has led to rumours Fernando Alonso could replace his former McLaren team-mate at Mercedes in 2016. But Wolff insisted he is delighted with the current line-up and intends to honour the promise made to Hamilton by offering him a new deal sometime after the Abu Dhabi finale on November 23.

"We have a contract with both our drivers for 2015, and we want to continue with the current line-up," Mercedes executive director (business) Wolff said. "That is because these two boys are part of the success of the team, they know each other so well and they respect each other. The moment you get somebody else in that fight could be detrimental to the team's performance. So our main priority is to continue with Lewis and Nico beyond 2015.

"We have agreed with Lewis we want to concentrate on the championship and leave him alone. We want to give him the same possibilities as Nico, and for him not to get involved in commercial, financial and legal discussions until after Abu Dhabi. My commitment to him as well is we're not going to talk to anybody about any terms or contracts until then."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.