Talk of Hamilton’s next move become off-limits

Lewis Hamilton took the sting out of what could have become another feeding frenzy over his future by declining to answer any questions as to where he might be next season.

Hamilton has two final contract offers on the table from McLaren and Mercedes, with the ball in his court as to where he decides to go.

In Italy a fortnight ago, courtesy of a remark from Eddie Jordan that terms had been agreed with Mercedes and an announcement of a deal was imminent, the subject of Hamilton’s future was the only one in town.

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Two weeks on ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix and Hamilton has no desire to continue to discuss the matter.

As he took his seat ahead of one of his press sessions at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Hamilton said: “Before we start, I’m not here to speak about anything but the weekend.

“I’ve no extra news for you, so use your time wisely to speak about other things if you can.”

Hamilton even refused to skirt around the issue when it was put to him that team-mate Jenson Button has used speculation over his future in the past as a positive.

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“I’ve not even thought about it,” said Hamilton, winner of two of the last three races in Hungary and Monza to push him to within 37 points of championship leader Fernando Alonso.

“I’m just focusing on this weekend. The most important thing is not to get excited about the pace we had in the last race because it is going to be different this weekend. Other people, like Fernando, have said they’re going to be bringing an update this weekend, so I hope we have something to combat that.

“So I’ve other things to focus on.”

So it was left to Button to put things into perspective for Hamilton, urging him to embrace his situation, no matter how tough the decision.

Button experienced something similar in 2009 as to whether he would remain with Brawn, which eventually morphed into Mercedes, or move on elsewhere, and again last season with his initial two-year McLaren deal expiring.

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“I quite like it. It’s quite exciting being in that situation,” said Button.

“I’ve never found it a bad thing when people have asked me where I’m racing, and when you’ve more than one interested party it’s always nice for a driver.”