Lewis Hamilton has not spoken publicly because the season finale at Abu Dhabi.
(AFP)

Mercedes are more and more assured that Lewis Hamilton will decide to stay in Method 1 for the 2022 season fairly than retire from the game.

The seven-time world champion has not spoken publicly because the season finale on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when he misplaced out on a record-breaking eighth world championship to Max Verstappen in controversial circumstances.

Throughout a late security automobile interval attributable to William’s Nicholas Latifi, FIA Race Director Michael Masi used an unprecedented interpretation of the foundations to permit solely the lapped vehicles separating Hamilton in first and Verstappen in second to un-lap themselves with one tour of the circuit remaining.

With Hamilton on worn arduous tyres and Verstappen on contemporary softs, the Dutchman was gifted the championship. Within the aftermath, crew principal Toto Wolff spoke of how ‘disillusioned’ he and his driver felt, and mentioned he couldn't assure Hamilton would return to the grid.

‘Lewis and I are disillusioned in the mean time,’ Wolff mentioned a number of days after the controversial race. ‘I'd very a lot hope that Lewis continues racing, as a result of he's the best driver of all time. But when we break that basic precept of sporting equity and authenticity of the game then instantly the stopwatch doesn’t change into related anymore as a result of we're uncovered to random decision-making, then it’s clear that you simply fall out of affection with it.’

Hamilton and Wolff refused to attend the FIA’s prizegiving ceremony the week after the finale and will nonetheless face a reprimand from the governing physique.

However insiders on the Brackley-based squad are more and more assured Hamilton shall be again to combat for the 2022 title, in line with The Occasions. The 37-year-old has been protecting match at his residence within the Colorado mountains throughout pre-season and has taken a break from social media within the meantime.

The FIA introduced within the aftermath of the Abu Dhabi debacle that it will be endeavor a radical investigation into occasions with the intention to confirm what went incorrect and guarantee it couldn't occur once more in future, after admitting Masi’s name had ‘broken the popularity’ of Method 1.

Mercedes stopped their enchantment towards within the race end in response, and Hamilton’s determination is alleged to partially hinge on the outcomes of the FIA overview.

If he does return as anticipated, Hamilton shall be partnered by George Russell for the primary time. The 23-year-old has changed Valtteri Bottas within the second Mercedes seat after spending three seasons in the back of the grid with Williams, and can seemingly pose a extra constant on-track menace to Hamilton.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton function in Metro’s F1 finish of season awards

Nicholas Latifi breaks silence on his position in controversial finish to Abu Dhabi GP

.

.