Lewis Hamilton has vowed to put an end to speculation over his future sooner rather than later this season.

Hamilton is now in the final season of a five-year contract with McLaren worth £10 million per year, with much of the focus likely to centre on whether he remains at a team he has been with since the age of 13.

With seats expected to become available at all the major rivals – Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes – come the end of the campaign it appears as if Hamilton could have his pick.

Much could depend on McLaren’s latest challenger, the MP4-27 that Hamilton and team-mate Jenson Button unveiled this week in Woking.

Asked as to his future, the 27-year-old appreciates it is “going to be a big topic”, but will not allow it to overshadow the campaign.

He added: “At the moment the focus is on the preparation we have coming up for the season.

“Probably after the first couple of races it’s something we will 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.”

After appearing a tortured soul at the end of last season as the pain of his break-up with girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger compounded a number of on-track accidents, Hamilton is convinced he has rid himself of the mental demons that plagued him.

“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.”