“Whether this is staying with us for a long time, or whether that means leaving the sport and pursuing different interests. I think we need to be ready for all kinds of curveballs being thrown at us.

“But at the same time, we talk a lot, and we are very transparent with each other. I think there is more to achieve together.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Mercedes car will again be painted black for the Briton’s historic assault on an eighth world championship.

Last year, Hamilton urged the Mercedes hierarchy to change its traditional silver livery in a defiant message against racism.

And the German manufacturer is set to continue with the same colour scheme when Hamilton begins the defence of his crown in Bahrain on March 28.