Hamilton on verge of $52m deal!

Lewis Hamilton is reportedly on the brink of signing a whopping new $52m (fifty-two million) with Mercedes.

After months and months of speculation, F1i are reporting that Mercedes have put the contract on the table for Hamilton and the Brit just needs to put pen to paper.

Hamilton is in the final year of his contract with the Silver Arrows and he is expected to sign a new deal that takes him to the end of the F1's current engine regulations.

$52m a year is the rumoured figure - a figure, which would rocket him to the top of the United Kingdom's highest paid athletes list.

Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff was speaking last weekend about the contract saga.

"We don't want to drag it out much longer," the Mercedes boss insisted.

"I expect it to be done very, very soon."

Part of Lewis' thinking might be to do with his partner for next season.

However, all signals are indicating that Valtteri Bottas will remain Hamilton's partner for the 2019 season.

"Valtteri is doing some extraordinary work, and there is currently no reason to change the line up," Wolff said.

The announcement over Mercedes' drivers will take place next week.