The Lewis Hamilton contract saga looks set to continue throughout yet another race weekend or two.
The reigning world champion’s repeatedly delayed new Mercedes deal has triggered rumours he might be considering a switch to Ferrari.
But in the last days, German reports indicated a new three-year agreement has finally been signed by both sides, with team chairman Niki Lauda declaring recently: "Everything will be fixed by the Spanish grand prix".
The Austrian and F1 legend, however, is now indicating that the Barcelona weekend will in fact be run and won without Hamilton’s deal being sealed.
"There is no problem," Lauda told the Austrian news agency APA. "I expect us to announce something before Monte Carlo, possibly even earlier."
Monaco is the race scheduled to take place two weeks after Spain.