Mercedes have dropped a huge hint regarding Lewis Hamilton ’s future, after rumours began to grow surrounding his potential retirement from Formula 1. Hamilton was no doubt left heartbroken following the dramatic finish of last season’s F1 title race, as he was pipped to a record eighth title on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by Max Verstappen.
Verstappen collected his maiden world championship on the back of victory in the Middle East, however it wasn’t without its controversies. With a handful of laps remaining Hamilton looked well on track to pick up a fifth straight F1 championship, however what came next no doubt shell-shocked the Englishman and his team. A late crash from lowly Nicholas Latifi led to a safety car being deployed, which in-turn led to Hamilton’s once comfortable lead ahead of Verstappen being almost wiped out.
Proceedings were made hugely dramatic when FIA director Michael Masi contentiously allowed five lapped cars between the title rivals overtake the safety car, which remarkably left Hamilton and Verstappen within touching distance with just one lap to go. The leading pair were left to play out a one lap shootout to decide the world championship and – no doubt thanks to his fresh tyres – Verstappen was the man who prevailed late on.
This controversial finish no doubt left a bitter taste in the mouth of Hamilton, and left many questioning whether the racing great may never race again with the Brit not yet breaking his silence on social media. However racing fans across the globe may now be able to breathe a sigh of relief, after Mercedes dropped a huge hint that the Englishman will be back on the track in 2022. The constructors’ champions took to social media and tweeted an image of Hamilton along with the caption: “Adversity causes some to break; others to break records.”
Of course with the 36-year-old just one title away from becoming the most successful F1 driver of all time, it seems the cryptic caption implies Hamilton will be out to break the record this upcoming season. Despite the reassurance, Hamilton has stayed remarkably quiet following the Abu Dhabi disappointment, not posting on either of his usually active Twitter and Instagram accounts since the day prior to the season’s finale race.
And Hamilton’s silence has even reached FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, after he revealed the Englishman was not even responding to his personal text messages. The FIA boss was however quick to rubbish any idea of Hamilton going into retirement. When asked about Hamilton calling it a day he replied: “No, I don’t think so, they are rumours… ”Has he declared that he will not return? No… I trust that this is not the case, Lewis is an important part of the sport and of F1, his achievements… I am sure we will find a very exciting F1 next season.”
