Lewis Hamilton eager to sort out F1 future with McLaren early

The Briton is out of contract at the end of this year and, while it is likely he will remain at McLaren, there have been frequent rumours about a potential switch to Red Bull Racing ever since he held a secret meeting with Christian Horner at last year's Canadian Grand Prix.

But although nothing has yet been sorted, Hamilton has indicated that he will sit down with his McLaren bosses after the first few races to decide on an action plan for the future.

"At the moment the focus is on the preparation we have coming up for the season," he was quoted as saying by the Press Association. "Probably after the first couple of races it's something we will probably want to get out of the way.

"We can then focus on the rest of the year without the team being concerned and without it being something hanging around, so then you guys (the media) won't have to ask questions about it.

"So I'll try to get that out of the way at some stage, probably in the earlier part of the year rather than later."

Hamilton returned to the public spotlight at the 2012 McLaren launch in Woking on Wednesday following a difficult end to last season - dogged with on-track frustrations and difficulties in his personal life.

But having had a winter to sort his mind out, Hamilton reckoned he was going to be much stronger this year than he was throughout the campaign.

"I want to win every race. I think I can," he said. "I think I've the ability to. If the car is where we hope there's no reason why we can't do that.

"The only thing that ever gets in your way is your own mind and your own insecurities or obstacles that you put in your way. The most important thing is to put those things aside and to overcome them, and I think I have.

"So I feel right. Standing right in front of you I feel stronger than I was a few months ago particularly, but even more so than I was last year at the start of the year."