Motorsport: Hamilton won't negotiate new deal amid virus, ahead of 70th Anniversary GP

Lewis Hamilton said he is uncomfortable negotiating a money-spinning Mercedes deal during the coronavirus pandemic. Hamilton's £40million-a-year contract is up for renewal in just five months' time. But the world champion has parked formal discussions with Formula One's all-conquering team over an extension to his current deal. "Honestly, it doesn't feel like the right time to sit down and talk about it," said Hamilton, who heads into the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday with a 30-point lead over team-mate Valtteri Bottas in the championship. "When you think about so many people in the world who have lost their jobs and people who are now unemployed, to sit down and negotiate a big contract doesn't feel like the most important thing that I need to apply time to at this second.'' Mercedes announced ahead of this weekend's race that Bottas will be retained for a fifth season. Hamilton heads into Sunday's race bidding for a fourth win in succession and comfortably on course to match Michael Schumacher's record haul of seven world championships this season.