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Lewis Hamilton has twice been targeted to join Ferrari for 2016.

Mirror Sport has learned the 30-year-old was secretly approached last year by former Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci.

And his replacement, veteran F1 figure Maurizio Arrivabene, has also let it be known he is keen for the world champion to join his Maranello revolution.

But Hamilton has kept his word to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and refused to even open talks with either of them.

The two sides have agreed not to speak to rivals until they have completed their own deliberations.

Hamilton, 30, has said publicly he wants to remain at Brackley and is thought to be in the final stages of inking a new deal.

Reports he will sign for five years to take him close to the end of his career are thought to be wide of the mark.

Instead it is expected to be a two plus one deal with options after the second season although the team will publicly call it an unspecified “multi-year” agreement.

(Image: Getty)

Ferrari want Hamilton to replace Finn Kimi Raikkonen who has reached the end of a two-year deal.

His value has fallen after being comprehensively outgunned by Fernando Alonso in 2014.

Maranello are thought to be prepared to make Hamilton the best paid driver in the sport, talking his income from around £20m to close to £30m.