Lewis Hamilton was on the verge of exceeding Michael Schumacher’s legendary F1 season record during 2021. But the 7-time champion failed to reach his eighth crowning after a drama-filled final race of the 2021 season that saw Max Verstappen emerge victoriously.
Hamilton has remained silent, but after two months, the British Formula 1 standout broke his silence on social media by stating he is “back” this was the first post he’s made since the painstaking F1 title loss in Abu Dhabi. While critics and fans alike suggested retirement was in the works, this statement has basically confirmed he’ll race for Mercedes again.
The losing title race of the 2021 season sparked controversy. Hamilton had led for the entirety of the race and was on track to obtain a record-breaking eight world title. But with one lap remaining, Verstappen overtook him when a safety car came onto the track to handle a crash involving Nicolas Latifi.
Race director Michael Masi came under scrutiny for failing to follow the rules correctly in two different ways on the final two laps, attempting to safeguard the race from ending under caution.
The unfortunate call left Hamilton riding old tyres; with Verstappen edging close with fresh tyres, the race resumed for one final lap. This Caused a massive outcry because the decision making of Masi held implications on how the world title was decided. Of course, Verstappen would have still won the race in various situations if Masi had applied the rules accurately, but he did not!
The star of Mercedes’ F1 team, who was repelled from an 8th championship, spared few words during an interview in parc ferme following the race and has been uncommunicative ever since – until Saturday night.
Fifty-six days since his previous post on social media, Hamilton wrote on Instagram and Twitter: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!” with the accompanying image of himself smiling whilst on a visit to the Grand Canyon, United States.
Mercedes’ Twitter account wasted no time in retweeting Hamilton’s ‘I’m back’ post with a praying hands emoji alongside.
The 37-year-olds silence, while causing retirement rumours, was never in doubt from the bookmakers. As the shortest betting odds on the grid, Hamilton’s 11/8 price tag dates back over four weeks, and we should expect this number to decline now that his unofficial return was made. Fear not; making use of BetMGM’s bonus codes can give bettors more leeway in returning an excellent profit for backing Hamilton’s chances of seeking redemption.
Hamilton is under contract with Mercedes for another two years, so the fear of him jumping ship to another team isn’t possible. He was previously vocal on his elation regarding F1’s new introductory rules and cars for 2022 but also conscious of what the FIA will announce.
Despite Mercedes’ choice to opt from ensuing their Abu Dhabi appeal, an FIA inquiry is currently underway to investigate how the final race was managed. The F1 governing body will deliberate the situation at the next Commission meeting in February, and they’ve stated that communication with all the grid’s drivers will be made prior. The inquiry verdict will be announced to the public on March 18, two days before the 2022 F1 season-opener.
Elsewhere, former F1 driver Christijan Albers suggested that booing from fans ridiculed Hamilton during the chaotic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and that this behaviour should be cut.
“Again, with qualifying, there was shouting,” Albers commented.
“In all the years that I have been active in motorsport, this has never happened. Once, in Austria, in the year that Barrichello had to let Schumacher pass. Motorsport is not like football. We are fans of everyone, of course, a little more of Max Verstappen, but this does not belong in motorsport. I think it is terrible.”
Albers expressed his sympathy for Lewis, given how the championship determining race ended with controversy and disappointment for the Mercedes frontman; “I felt for Lewis,” he said.
“He had driven such a fantastic race, and then it came down to a decision. A championship you can’t do anything about, you can’t influence. That’s the worst, losing the championship like that.”
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