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    ‘Welcome back, Lewis Hamilton’ – Mercedes drop biggest hint yet Brit is NOT retiring after controversial F1 season end

    MERCEDES have dropped the biggest hint yet that Lewis Hamilton will race for them this season with another social media tease.The 37-year-old had remained silent since December’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – where he controversially lost his world title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
    Lewis Hamilton shared a clip of himself running on social media yesterdayCredit: Instagram
    Mercedes have now dropped the biggest hint yet he will return after posting this snap and a ‘Welcome back’ messageCredit: Twitter @MercedesAMGF1
    The Brit is understood to have been considering QUITTING the sport.
    That was after he missed out on a record eighth championship on the final lap in the Middle East.
    But Hamilton suggested he is ready to go again to his 26.8million Instagram followers last week.
    He shared a snap of him smiling in front of the Grand Canyon captioned: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!”
    Mercedes were quick to comment, as they messaged: “Welcome back.”
    ‘He is back’ soon started trending on social media, to which Mercedes shared and then messaged again: “That’s right.”
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    Hamilton continued his social media comeback yesterday by sharing a video of him running with physio Angela Cullen captioned it with: “Back at it.”
    Now Mercedes have provided the clearest indication yet that he will be behind the wheel again in March once the new season gets underway.
    They showed an image of him in his racing suit looking at messages of support received on social media along with the message ‘Welcome back’ as they tagged him in it.
    There still has been no official confirmation yet from the team or driver, but it’s the biggest hint yet he will be back in action next season.
    And there is unlikely to be any further comment until the FIA delivers the results of its investigation into what happened in Abu Dhabi.
    Hamilton was leading by ten seconds going into lap 54 in last season’s finale, only to have victory cruelly snatched away after the deployment of a safety car.
    He has since been accused of trying to get FIA Race Director Michael Masi the sack, after he failed to obey the correct rules by allowing lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake.
    That resulted in a one-lap sprint to decide the title, Verstappen’s fresher tyres making all the difference.
    Hamilton is due to report back to Mercedes duty on February 23 for pre-season testing.
    The opening race of the 2022 season will take place in Bahrain on March 20. More

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    Lewis Hamilton to boost security at £18million West London home as F1 legend prepares for 2022 Max Verstappen showdown

    LEWIS HAMILTON has boosted his security at his £18million West London home as the seven-time F1 champ prepares for another title showdown with Max Verstappen.The Brit has been given the green light by planners to build a bigger front boundary wall to bolster his security at his London mansion.
    Lewis Hamilton has boosted security at his £18million London homeCredit: PA
    Hamilton wants to replace railings with a taller barrier.
    Kensington and Chelsea Council gave Hamilton the go-ahead after facing no objections from neighbours.
    Hamilton previously faced opposition over plans for a new summerhouse.
    The reason being it would block out natural daylight.
    Hamilton owns houses in some of the worlds most costly but luxurious places.
    From New York, to London and even Monte Carlo.
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    The 37-year-old star owns over £50m worth of properties.
    Hamilton has also hinted that he won’t be retiring from F1 after missing out on a record breaking eighth world title in controversial fashion.
    Since the loss in Abu Dhabi last year, Hamilton fell silent on social media.
    But he recently made his return with a picture in front of the Grand Canyon, exciting fans ahead of the new season.
    He captioned the post: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!” More

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    ‘I’m back’ – Lewis Hamilton posts on social media for first time since Abu Dhabi GP shambles amid doubts over F1 future

    LEWIS HAMILTON proclaimed “I’m back” as the Formula One superstar broke his social media silence.Hamilton, 37, has been uncharacteristically silent since December’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – where he lost his world title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
    Lewis Hamilton posted this snap on Instagram to his 26.8 million followersCredit: Instagram @lewishamilton
    Hamilton missed out on the Formula One world title after Max Verstappen beat him in Abu DhabiCredit: AFP
    The Brit is understood to have been considering QUITTING the sport after missing out on a record eighth championship on the final lap in the Middle East.
    But Hamilton suggested he is ready to go again to his 26.8million Instagram followers, smiling in a snap in front of the Grand Canyon captioned: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!”
    Mercedes were quick to comment, as they messaged: “Welcome back.”
    Hamilton was leading by ten seconds going into lap 54 in last season’s finale, only to have victory cruelly snatched away after the deployment of a safety car.
    He has since been accused of trying to get FIA Race Director Michael Masi the sack, after he failed to obey the correct rules by allowing lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake.
    That resulted in a one-lap sprint to decide the title, Verstappen’s fresher tyres making all the difference.
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    New FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem admitted last month that Hamilton is “not 100 per cent ready” to commit his future to the sport.
    Ben Sulayem claimed: “I don’t think he’s 100 per cent ready to respond right now.
    “We don’t blame him. I understand his position.”
    While former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone admitted he did not think the Brit would be returning.
    The 91-year-old told Blick: “I don’t think he’s coming back. His disappointment is too big. And you can somehow understand it.
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    “Now it would be time to tackle his dream of becoming a fashion entrepreneur with seven world titles like Michael Schumacher.”
    Hamilton is due to report back to Mercedes duty on February 23 for pre-season testing.
    The opening race of the 2022 season will take place in Bahrain on March 20. More

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    F1 legend Lewis Hamilton has an incredible £13m car collection, including £4m Shelby and £1.6m Pagani Zonda 760 LH

    TO be Lewis Hamilton for a day.The F1 ace has amassed a £300million fortune that allows him to indulge in the best boys’ toys around.
    Lewis Hamilton has amassed a £300m fortune from motor racing and sponsorshipsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
    Hamilton’s wealth means he can afford life’s greatest luxuries and has a £13m car collectionCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
    And boy does the racing legend know how to spend it – splashing his cash on the best cars that could earn him the title of ultimate celebrity petrol head.
    The eco-warrior is level with Michael Schumacher on seven world titles and missed out on a record-breaking eighth in the heartbreaking Abu Dhabi 2021 finale.
    But away from the track, Hamilton, 37, has an equally impressive fleet of cars worth around – wait for it – £13MILLION.
    Of course, being a driver, he’s a car fanatic and collects everything from supercars to vintage classics that he divides between two garages – one in Monaco and another in LA.
    He said previously: “I don’t know anything about wine. I don’t know a huge amount about art. But what I do know is cars, and I’m very particular about them.”
    Amusingly, so they keep their value, when Hamilton doesn’t want to drive them back home – he reportedly has a tow-truck that comes to pick them up from whatever restaurant or club he’s at. Here we take a look at just some of his extravagant collection:
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    PAGANI ZONDA 760 LH
    The rarest motor in Hamilton’s possession is a £1.6m Pagani Zonda that was made entirely for him.
    The exterior and interiors are purple, and at the request of the sports star he opted for a manual gearbox instead of the usual sequential one.
    His reasons? Because he hated getting behind the wheel of it initially.
    He once said: “The Zonda is terrible to drive!
    “It’s the best-sounding car I own, but handling-wise it’s the worst.”
    That could be why in 2015 Hamilton got in an accident that caused some significant damage to the cherished motor.
    Hamilton’s Pagani Zonda cost him £1.6m but he hates driving itCredit: Rex Features
    1966 SHELBY 427 COBRA
    The highest valued car in Hamilton’s collection is this stunning classic.
    Believed to be worth around £4m, it’s a rare sight – unless you’ve seen the racer cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway in LA.
    Hamilton was often spied taking his ex-missus Nicole Scherzinger for a spin in this beauty, which would have him standing out from the crowd.
    A 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra is Hamilton’s most expensive car worth £4mCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
    LAFERRARI
    Every car aficionado worth their weight in salt owns this £1m Ferrari – another collector’s item that rises in value as the years go by.
    Capable of reaching a top speed of 217 mph, the LaFerrari can hit 0-62 mph in just 2.4 seconds, meaning it’s the fastest car Hamilton owns.
    Footballers including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Son Heung-min also drive this frighteningly fast motor that must be just like handling a racing car.
    A £1m Ferrari La Ferrari is a must for any car collection, including HamiltonCredit: Xposure
    MERCEDES-AMG PROJECT ONE
    Lewis got his hands on a Project One last year, even though it is even supposed to be out until later in 2022.
    He was heavily involved in the production of the plug-in hybrid sports car that’s capable of hitting a top speed of 217 mph.
    Only 275 are going to be released at a cost of around £2m.
    Make that 274 now, since Hamilton has one.
    Hamilton has managed to get his hands on a £2m Mercedes-AMG Project One ahead of its 2021 release
    Hamilton was heavily involved in the production of the Project OneCredit: AFP or licensors
    MERCEDES-AMG SLS BLACK
    He already owned a SL Black Series, so why not add the SLS, right?
    Hamilton, who clearly has a need for speed, added this supercar to his garage probably because it’s the fastest Mercedes in production.
    Powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine that produces 622bhp – the SLS can reach a top speed of 196 mph.
    It also hits 0-60 in just 3 seconds – making it the ideal car for Hamilton to get his thrills off the track with. For a price tag of £230k, it’s just what you’d expect really.
    Driving for Mercedes has its perks for HamiltonCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
    Hamilton regularly shares images on social media alongside Mercedes motorsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
    MCLAREN P1
    Despite splitting with McLaren’s racing team, Hamilton can’t have felt too aggrieved with his former employers because in 2015 he added a £2m P1 to his extensive list of rides.
    The P1 has a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, which is twinned with an electric motor that means the supercar has a total power and torque output of 903 bhp and 980 Nm of torque.
    In real talk that means it’s fast and powerful, can hit a top of 217 mph and 0-60 mph in under 2.7 seconds.
    In 2015 Hamilton added a £2M McLaren P1 to his list of ridesCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
    The McLaren P1 is capable of hitting 0-62 mph in just 2.7 secondsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
    Hamilton didn’t hold any grudges with McLaren despite splitting from the team and drives their car still on the streets of MonacoCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
    1967 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500
    The second classic car that’s part of his fleet, fans of the Hollywood movie Gone In 60 Seconds might recognise this motor as looking to similar to one of the Eleanor models from the film.
    Hamilton had his customised by Oklahoma shop Classic Recreations for additional cost.
    At auctions, these can fetch up to £750k, and you can bet Hamilton’s is in tip-top condition. That said, we doubt he’ll ever sell it.
    BEST OF THE REST
    When the Mercedes-Maybach 6 came out in 2016, Hamilton made sure he got his hands on the concept car.
    The 2×2 coupe is completely electric, and can run up to 200 miles before it’ll need recharging.
    Hamilton also has another Mercedes – the Maybach S600, which is a luxurious chauffeur’s car with a partition separating the front seats from the back.
    Both those motors have a combined worth of around £800k.
    And Hamilton doesn’t mind swapping four wheels for two – sometimes taking his £6,500 Honda CRF450RX Motocross Bike around the dirt tracks of California.
    Then there’s also his Maverick X3 dune buggy that would’ve set him back around £20k, that’s also electric in theme with his eco-warrior status.
    Hamilton is a fan of the Maverick x3 dune buggy worth £20kCredit: 2017. All rights reserved.
    Nicole Scherzinger used to ride with Hamilton on his buggyCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
    Hamilton also has a penchant for motorbikesCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Mercedes forced to release statement rubbishing claims Hamilton’s 2022 F1 car failed FIA’s crash tests ahead of season

    LEWIS HAMILTON’S Mercedes team have rubbished reports their 2022 F1 car failed the FIA’s crash tests.Merc issued a statement due to incorrect stories saying their W13 ‘completed its FIA homologation process on 13 January 2022′.
    There were claims Lewis Hamilton’s car failed FIA crash testingCredit: Getty
    Mercedes took to Twitter with the cheeky response over the reports
    All F1 teams are required to submit their cars to stringent safety checks, including side-impact stiffness.
    The new rules for this season mean the minimum weight of an F1 car has been increased to 795kg to allow for a stronger structure.
    Merc will launch their car on February 18, just five days before pre-season testing begins in Barcelona.
    The car will return to a traditional silver livery after two years of black, done to show support for diversity and a stand against racism and discrimination.
    And it will be used in a race for the first time on March 20 at the curtain-raiser in Bahrain.
    Hamilton will be in attendance at the virtual launch next month after the controversial end to the 2021 season.
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    He has been silent publicly since the Abu Dhabi finale which saw Max Verstappen steal the title from him on the final lap, not even posting on social media in that time.
    However, he was spotted in California grabbing a coffee over the weekend.
    The 37-year-old has been the subject of intense speculation regarding his position in the sport in recent weeks.
    Hamilton’s future hangs in the balance and is dependent on the outcome of an inquest into the title-deciding race, which is expected to be published TWO days before the start of next season.
    New Merc driver George Russell will also be present for his first day as a Mercedes driver after replacing Valteri Bottas, but all eyes will be on Hamilton.
    The new Mercedes car is yet to be released but is expected to revert back to the traditional silverCredit: AP More

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    George Russell ‘ready’ to go toe-to-toe with Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes F1 battle, says legend Mark Webber

    GEORGE RUSSELL is ‘ready’ to go toe-to-toe with Lewis Hamilton in their Formula One battle at Mercedes, according to Mark Webber.The rising British star, 23, joins the seven-time world champion at the Silver Arrows this season following Valtteri Bottas’ departure.
    George Russell has ambitions to challenge for the F1 title in 2022Credit: Rex
    He will be teaming up with veteran and seven-time winner Lewis Hamilton for MercedesCredit: Alamy
    And following some impressive performances for Williams, he will be ready to challenge the best in the business with an improved car – including his own team-mate and compatriot Hamilton.
    Webber told formelaustria: “Going up against Lewis will be extremely challenging.
    “But George has almost 50 races under his belt now, so he’s ready for it [60 F1 starts, 50 finishes].
    “George will know that there will be a huge shift in intensity that comes with the expectation of qualifying for the front row every week and finishing every race in the top positions.”
    Mercedes boss Toto Wolff will be desperate his pair of drivers can retain the constructors’ championship – assuming Hamilton does not quit the sport.
    The Stevenage star wants revenge on Max Verstappen after the 2021 F1 season finale which saw the Dutchman claim the drivers’ crown.
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    But Russell will hope he can squeeze his way into the rivalry and challenge for the title, too.
    Testing for the new F1 season gets underway next month with the first race in Bahrain on March 20.
    Webber, who spent 12 years in F1 with three third-place finishes, also had his say on the sprint races amid talk of the new format being scrapped.
    However, he compared the endurance required to win a full race to a Grand Slam five-setter in tennis.
    The Aussie added: “In sprint racing, we need to make sure that the consumer understands what they are watching and what F1 is trying to achieve, and that is not always easy.
    “Even though the longer events sometimes get more boring, like in tennis, all the top players want to win the Grand Slams and the bigger tournaments.
    “The best of the best find a way to win in five sets.
    “So we have to be careful with the sprint races in F1 that they don’t become a bit of a lottery and reduce the prestige of the series.”
    Webber was at Red Bull for seven years and came third in the drivers’ championship three timesCredit: Getty More

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    ‘League of their own’ – Christian Horner wants ‘incredible’ Lewis Hamilton to renew rivalry with Verstappen next season

    CHRISTIAN HORNER hopes that Lewis Hamilton sticks around in Formula 1 this season.The Red Bull chief saw his charge Max Verstappen battle tooth and nail with the Brit in last season’s controversial title battle.
    Christian Horner wants his man Max Verstappen to be taking on Lewis Hamilton againCredit: AFP
    The Brit’s future remains up in the airCredit: PA
    And despite Hamilton, 37, being his man’s biggest obstacle in retaining the championship this year, Horner hopes that he sticks around as the pair are in ‘a league of their own’.
    He told World Is One News: “I certainly hope that Lewis will be around this year.
    “He’s still driving at an incredible level, the two drivers last year were in a league of their own.
    “But ultimately, it’s his choice, it’s his career, it’s his decision, so I’m sure he will decide to do what’s best for him, what he wants to do, and that’s none of our business.”
    Hamilton has so far kept quiet on his future, not speaking publicly since Abu Dhabi.
    But Mercedes chief Toto Wolff appears cautiously optimistically about the prospect of Hamilton pairing up with new Silver Arrows acquisition George Russell.
    @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Motorsport.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
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    He told Auto Motor und Sport: “I would wish that we had two lightning-fast drivers fighting for victory.
    “And if not, then we need these drivers to get our car back on the winning track.
    “The measure of Lewis is often wrongly questioned. Even after the events in Abu Dhabi, he immediately congratulated Max.
    “Lewis only wants one thing: fair competition on the track. We will deliver that.”
    Pre-season testing is set to take place in Barcelona between February 23-25.
    Hamilton’s former McLaren team-mate Jensen Button doesn’t believe that his old pal will turn his back on the sport.
    He said: “”I really do hope he will be racing. I think he will be racing. He wants to win that eighth title and be the most decorated Formula One driver in F1 history. And he will do that, I really do think so.”

    Jenson Button believes his old pal will stay in F1Credit: PA More

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    Lewis Hamilton’s threat to quit F1 is NOT stunt with Mercedes star ‘disillusioned’ following controversial end to season

    LEWIS HAMILTON’s threat to quit F1 should NOT be dismissed as a stunt, according to McLaren CEO Zak Brown.Hamilton is “disillusioned” after the controversial end to the Abu Dhabi GP last month with Merc boss Toto Wolff unsure if the Brit will ever return to the sport.
    Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen went at it throughout the last F1 seasonCredit: Getty
    Hamilton was livid after FIA Race Director Michael Masi failed to apply the rules regarding the safety car, which resulted in Max Verstappen winning the race and the title.
    Hamilton has since gone to ground and not spoken about the incident and Brown says he wouldn’t be shocked to see him quit F1 altogether.
    He said: “I wouldn’t be shocked if Lewis stopped, so I don’t think anyone should take for granted that he’s coming back.
    “It is just my personal opinion he’s going to [come back] but I don’t think we should discount or not recognise his frustration, his anger.
    “Maybe he hasn’t made a decision yet. Maybe he is taking time to make that decision because once it’s made, it is made.
    “So I don’t think we should rule it out or make light of it [him quitting].”
    @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Motorsport.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
    It is understood that Hamilton is awaiting the outcome of the FIA’s report into the events surrounding Masi’s controversial decisions in Abu Dhabi.
    The FIA have given themselves a deadline of just TWO days before the season-opener in Bahrain on March 20th to publish their report.
    And while Brown says he wouldn’t be surprised to see Hamilton walk away, he personally thinks he will return to fight for another title.
    He added: “I think he still has a burning desire to race and that will ultimately drive his decision.
    “Sure, he’s very angry but I think racecar drivers want to race. And I think he’s a fighter.
    “I think he’ll want to come back and try and win an eighth championship. I don’t think he’s ready to retire because once you hang it up, you hang it up.
    “I don’t think he’s ready to hang it up. And I don’t think he’s going to let an incident put him into retirement.”
    The focus is on the FIA’s handling of their investigation and what they do with Masi, who faces claims his position is now untenable.
    Hamilton is upset with the way the F1 ended with the Abu Dhabi Grand PrixCredit: Getty
    But Brown is confident incoming FIA President, Mohammed ben Sulayem, will make the right changes and also says a professional body of race stewards is now required.
    He said: “I have a lot of confidence in Mohammed. I have spent a good amount of time with him and I believe he will be a change agent where things need to be changed and improved upon.
    “He also consults. He’s already done the rounds with the teams talking to us about what we think, so I think he’s going to be a very good President.
    “We can be focused on Abu Dhabi but if we look at the last couple of years of the variety of incidents. Abu Dhabi was just one of them.
    “Let’s not forget that the teams had a big say in how the sport is policed and the rules and now I think we find ourselves in a situation where on track activities are over regulated.
    “I remember Niki Lauda once saying, ‘just let the drivers sort it out. That’s what we used to do’.
    “I think there needs to be somewhere in between with more leniency on letting them race.
    “To have people bending the ear of the referee, and lots of them live, makes it pretty difficult to make decisions when you’ve got a lot of noise.
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    “It’s probably good for TV that the mic was open, but we saw it created some habits and some decisions that maybe weren’t the right decisions.
    “Going forward, having more full-time stewards definitely seems to be the right way to go.”
    Meanwhile, Mercedes have confirmed they will launch their challenger for the 2022 season on February 18th. More