Lewis Hamilton is still some distance from finalising a new contract with McLaren, even though his old five-year deal has only four months to run.
Hamilton has been back to his best form this season, after a tumultuous 2011, but, though he and his employers were expected to reach agreement during the summer break that ends with Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix, the two sides remain contractually estranged.
When asked on Friday whether there was a sticking point the driver revealed: "There are lots of things. You never just sign a contract that's given to you. Most of the time it's shit. There are still lots of factors to be taken into account."
And when asked whether he saw himself at McLaren next year, Hamilton sounded even more vague. He said: "I don't see myself anywhere at the moment. I really don't because it is difficult to picture what is going to happen in the future.
"It is quite a difficult, interesting time in Formula One at the moment. If the rules were to stay the same for the next five years it would make the decision a lot easier. But you don't know what is going to happen because in 2014 the rule regulations change quite heavily. So you don't know what is going to be the place.
"In the end you have to take a gamble on that, though, don't you, and I am not much of a gambler. I always lose money at the casino!"
Leaving McLaren, though, may be a gamble too far for Hamilton, 27, who has been with the team since he was 13, and the two sides are likely to reach agreement later in the year, possibly October. Reduced to its simplest terms, the driver has nowhere else to go and McLaren cannot sign a better driver.
The most likely alternative targets for Hamilton's negotiators – Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes – do not have a vacancy. Ferrari may have one for someone else, because Felipe Massa is still driving on very thin tarmac, being 139 points behind his team-mate, Fernando Alonso, in the standings. But the thought of a Hamilton-Alonso reunion after their troubled pairing at McLaren in 2007 does not feel a plausible one.
It is possible that Hamilton and McLaren might already have clinched a deal but for the recent death of an aunt on his father's side, Diane.
Hamilton added: "Right now it's just personal, family stuff that is holding it up, mostly. I've had a lot to think about the last couple of weeks so I've put it off. And probably the next week or so I won't be thinking about it. But after that … there are discussions."
At the moment the driver is more focused on repeating his 2010 success here. Since the German Grand Prix McLaren have had a highly competitive car. Lotus should also do well here and, though Alonso's Ferrari was expected to be compromised by the long straights and the fast corners, the recent rain will have encouraged him.
Meanwhile Michael Schumacher willbe happy merely to complete his 300th race. He has had six DNFs in 11 races, more than any other driver, and on Friday was fined £2,000 for a pitlane infringement during the second practice session.
Both sessions were badly hit by heavy rain. Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi set the fastest time in the morning and he was followed by Pastor Maldonado and Daniel Ricciardo. But some drivers did not go out until the last 40 minutes. It never stopped raining after lunch and the second session was almost a complete washout, with only 18 drivers coming out, none of whom put in a flying lap.