Mercedes ‘decline to comment’ on Lewis Hamilton’s future with retirement a possibility

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Mercedes have reportedly declined to comment after being approached about whether Lewis Hamilton’s future in Formula One hinges on the results of an inquiry by the FIA into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

According to the BBC, insiders have revealed that Hamilton has lost trust in the governing body as a result of the race after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the title under controversial circumstances.

Mercedes and Hamilton were left furious after the FIA race director Michael Masi altered the rules at Yas Marina during a late safety car period.

However, the eight-time world champions are said by the BBC to have dropped their appeal against the FIA ‘after agreeing on a quid pro quo’ with the FIA to sack Masi and head of single-seater technical matters Nikolas Tombazis.

Mercedes have denied the reports, insisting the appeal was dropped after they received additional reassurances from senior members that the appropriate action would be taken by the governing body.

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Masi was heavily criticised after allowing just five cars, specifically the cars between leader Hamilton and second-placed Verstappen, to un-lap themselves with just five laps remaining of the title-deciding race.

Hamilton was a sitting duck on old, hard tyres as the race restarted for a last-lap dash to the chequered flag, with Verstappen sweeping past the seven-time world champion to take the win.

Hamilton has since disappeared from the public eye, with boss Toto Wolff admitting they felt “disillusioned” after the events and demanding the FIA investigate the circumstances surrounding the controversy.

The team principal said: “Lewis and I are disillusioned at the moment. We are not disillusioned with the sport — we love the sport with every bone in our body, and we love it because the stopwatch never lies.

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“But if we break that fundamental principle of sporting fairness and authenticity of the sport, then suddenly the stopwatch doesn’t become relevant anymore because we are exposed to random decision-making, that it is clear you may fall out of love with.

“Then you start to question if all the work you have been putting in — all the sweat, tears, and blood — can actually be demonstrated in terms of being the best possible performance on track because it can be taken away randomly.

“It’s going to take a long time for us to digest what has happened, I don’t think we will ever get over it.

“That’s not possible. And certainly not as a driver.”

The FIA recognised the fall-out from events and pledged to investigate to avoid “tarnishing the image of the championship” and will speak with “all relevant parties”.

No information has yet been released from the investigation, with Mercedes still desperate for answers, waiting to see what action the FIA takes to address the issues.

“I don’t think he’s 100 per cent ready to respond right now,” said new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said last week, after contacting Hamilton five days after the race. “We don’t blame him. I understand his position.”

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