World champion Lewis Hamilton says his deal to remain a Mercedes driver could be signed ahead of this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s three-year deal is set to expire in a few months and he elected to put talks on a contract extension on hold last year in order to focus on winning his duel with team-mate Nico Rosberg for the F1 championship.

It was a battle that he managed to win and the British driver re-entered negotiations to extend his stay with the Silver Arrows during the off-season.

Hamilton got his campaign off to the perfect start with victory at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and now says his new deal could be announced before the second race of the season.

“It is going back between the lawyers so hopefully it is done before the weekend,” Hamilton told Sky Sports News. “That would be great, but if not in due time.”

Should Hamilton confirm his new deal with Mercedes it would bring to an end intense speculation on the future of the 30-year-old two-time world champion.

Recent speculation had suggested Hamilton could be on the verge of a sensational switch to Ferrari but his latest comments appear to pour cold water on those reports.

Hamilton is 1.50 to win the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend and 1.34 to retain the world championship this season.