Will Lewis Hamilton return for the new F1 season?

By Tom Harle

Lewis Hamilton has already made his decision.

The great British driver is at a crossroads in his career that not even he can take at top speed, with the spectre of Formula One retirement looming large.

A week ago Mercedes principal Toto Wolff - himself reeling from the Abu Dhabi denouement - dropped the chequered flag on rumours that Hamilton is finished.

“It's going to take a long time for us to digest what has happened,” said the German. “I don't think we will ever overcome it, that's not possible.”

He spoke of hope that Hamilton would continue in the sport, rather than expectation.

The 36-year-old has a strong inner sense of justice and his inner convictions on right and wrong were violated by one of the most controversial incidents in modern sport.

We talk, of course, of the way that Max Verstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap of the final race to scoop the world title after the Safety Car restarted the race.

Hamilton and his team spurned the subsequent FIA Awards and that was far from gesture politics.

Mercedes have been aggressive in backroom talks with the governing body, who are already promising wholesale reform of the rules of the sport. It may not be enough to save the soul of the sport’s golden boy, who has almost single-handedly dragged it through a decade.

Hamilton has purged his Instagram, unfollowing everyone, indicating a man at odds with the world he once inhabited and seeking to withdraw to protect himself and his mental health.

He only resurfaced to be knighted by Prince Charles at Windsor Castle having equalled Michael Schumacher with his seventh world title earlier in 2021.

It is hard to think of such a soaring sporting career that has ever been cut short by a single officiating decision but this might come close. Hamilton is clearly in a tailspin.

It would be a tragedy of epic proportions were this to be his final race. He means too much to too many to go quietly, the question is where he has it within himself to go again.

Stefano Domenicali has already had his say. “I’m sure he will recharge his batteries and come back with even more desire to win the eighth world title,” said the F1 supremo.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has less of a financial stake in the outcome of Hamilton’s deliberations - but he would have made a few more podiums were it not for the indomitable Brit.

Even he would be sad to see his rival go.

"I hope Hamilton doesn't retire, I want to continue racing with him, he's one of the best in history and I want to continue sharing the grid with him."

We hear that Lewis has already made Mercedes aware of his decision and the picture within the Constructors Championship winners could hold the key to his future.

Valtteri Bottas, who Hamilton once christened as his best-ever team-mate, leaves to join Alfa Romeo and he will be joined in the stable by George Russell.

Bottas has blown hot and cold of late and in Russell, they are getting a fiery performer who has consistently impressed at Williams.

Hamilton’s main motivation will of course be to get his title back.

But Russell, 23, is widely seen as Hamilton’s successor as the next British driver who will challenge for championships.

Hamilton will doubtless be fired up by the chance of two more years of racing and completing the handover to Russell, ushering in a new era and giving it his blessing.

Lewis needs Formula One and Formula One needs Lewis. Expect to see him lay another stitch in his rich racing tapestry next season and fight all the way to get back on top.

Photo Credit: Getty Images