Reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is close to re-signing with Mercedes after revealing negotiations are in the "final stages".
Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the 2015 F1 season, which gets underway in Australia next week, having joined Mercedes on a three-year deal reportedly worth up to £60million during the latter stages of 2012.
The two-time F1 champion has been negotiating his own contract after splitting with Simon Fuller's management company XIX last year and the 30-year-old said an agreement is close.
"It's been an experience. Learning something new and experiencing something like this, I'm glad I've done it," Hamilton said of conduction negotiations.
"It's a very, very nerve-wracking kind of experience, but I just tried to do the best job I possibly could.
"Hopefully we're in the final stages. I don't really know what the timeline is. We're not rushing, but we're very much in the last stages of it."
Hamilton, who will line up alongside Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg at Albert Park in Melbourne on March 15, denied his performances might be impacted with a new deal yet to be signed off.
"I don't think it makes a difference, not in terms of my preparations," the Brit added.
"It might for the team, although I don't think so. We're committed for this year anyway, contractually, so it would just be one less thing to think about."