Lewis Hamilton veering away from Mercedes as Niki Lauda insists driver will stay at McLaren Discussing possible driver movements with Formula One's official website, Lauda said he did not envisage changes at Ferrari or McLaren for 2013. "Hamilton will stay with McLaren," said the three-time world champion, adding of Mercedes: "I have no idea what they are up to." Lauda, who may be offered a role at Mercedes as part of a rumoured management shakeup, was used by Mercedes in negotiations with F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone over the new Concorde Agreement, the commercial pact which binds the teams to the sport, and again in trying to lure Hamilton to Brackley. However, McLaren have returned with improved terms in the wake of reports earlier this month that Hamilton had already agreed a move to Mercedes, and seemed increasingly confident in Singapore that they had wrestled their star driver back from the brink. The Woking team are even thought to have offered Hamilton and his management company XIX more flexibility to make personal commercial deals if it means securing the 27 year-old's future. A decision is expected this week but failing that, certainly in time for next week's Japanese Grand Prix.