Mercedes could appoint Lewis Hamilton replacement in next two weeks

Formula 1: Jenson Button on rumours of Lewis Hamilton retiring

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Mercedes will have both of their drivers for the upcoming 2022 season in attendance at this month’s new car launch, according to reports. The Silver Arrows appear to be facing the possibility of losing Lewis Hamilton at short notice over the coming weeks, with the 37-year-old said to be mulling over whether to walk away from the sport in the wake of last year’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Brit was denied a record-breaking eighth Drivers’ Championship triumph on the final lap at the Yas Marina Circuit after Max Verstappen was bizarrely allowed to close up to him during a late safety car period.

The Red Bull man was given a clear run at Hamilton when race director Michael Masi asked only the five lapped cars between the two leaders to un-lap themselves before the green flags were waved.

Verstappen went on to force his way around his Mercedes rival during the one-lap shootout that followed to clinch the honours under dramatic circumstances.

Hamilton’s trust in the FIA is said to have been damaged as a result of what happened in Abu Dhabi and he is now said to be weighing up the idea of a shock retirement ahead of the new campaign.

It has also been suggested that he could take a year-long sabbatical in order to judge the governing body from afar before returning to the grid in 2023.

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It seems as though Hamilton could be ready to make his decision in the not-too-distant future, with Mercedes expecting both of their drivers to feature at their launch event on February 18, according to Sky Sports.

However, the German outfit have crucially refused to confirm if Hamilton or another driver will be lining up alongside George Russell as of yet.

The seven-time champion would be widely expected to break his silence over the events in Abu Dhabi if he attends the Mercedes launch at Silverstone in just over two weeks’ time.

He is yet to comment since giving his post-race interview in the immediate aftermath of proceedings and has not posted on any of his social media channels for almost two months.

Hamilton, who is under contract until the end of 2023, is said to be keen on finding out the results of the FIA’s investigation into how the race was handled before committing his future to the sport.

The findings are set to be discussed at the F1 Commission meeting in London on February 14 before they are signed off in Bahrain in March.

Meanwhile, former Red Bull driver David Coulthard recently insisted that Hamilton will eventually get over his crushing defeat in Abu Dhabi and renew his hunger in time for the new season.

“The big decision was when he committed to that new two-year contract midway through last season, I don’t think Abu Dhabi changes anything,” Coulthard told The Telegraph.

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“Of course he would have liked to have won. And I think he was very emotional, as anyone would be under the circumstances.

“But I think the reality is the shock was probably far less for him than it would have been for Toto [Wolff], or the rest of the team, or his fans.

“I can’t compare myself to Lewis in terms of success or speed but one thing I think I can relate to is that emotional detachment, once the moment’s gone.

“The euphoria of success wears off quite quickly, and the disappointment of defeat wears off quite quickly as well.”

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