“I don’t know whether our values are aligned and timing… it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Hamilton was full of praise for his Mercedes team and says he sees them as a family to him.

He added: “I’m so grateful with what I have with Mercedes.

“This is the only team in the history of the sport where you’re a long-life family member, the older greats have been a part of the Mercedes brand for their whole life, you’re a part of the road of evolution, they include you in the family forever.