McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has said that talks with Lewis Hamilton are "heading for the right place".

Doubt surrounds the future of the 27-year-old, with reports suggesting that he could be on his way to Mercedes.

Whitmarsh said that negotiations over a new deal are moving in the right direction, but stated that he does not want to distract Hamilton from his current task in the F1 drivers' championship.

When asked about the situation, Whitmarsh replied: "This much I can say: we are heading for the right place. People are having some speculation - and fun - but I don't think that it alters the course particularly.

"Right here and now, genuinely I wouldn't want Lewis to focus on that issue so I haven't spoken to him about a deal this week and I don't want to speak with him about it here as I want him to be on form. I want to finish one-two on Sunday - if I can - so I don't think that we need to talk about the future - about contracts - right now.

"It is too important for Lewis as he needs a strong result here for his championship - and we want a strong result for both our championships. That is the priority."

Hamilton made his F1 debut with McLaren in the 2007 Australian Grand Prix.