Don’t take it for granted that Hamilton stays – Brown

McLaren boss Zak Brown expects Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton to drive in Formula 1 this year, despite rumors of his retirement – but warned nobody should “assume he’s coming back”.

Hamilton has remained silent in public since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix a month ago, following the safety car at the end of the race and the subsequent one-lap shootout in which Max Verstappen passed him on fresh tires to win the World Championship.

The FIA ​​​​is working on a process to analyze the decisions made in Abu Dhabi, which must lead to significant changes to avoid a repeat of the mistakes made in the implementation of sporting regulations.

Hamilton’s decision on whether to continue could depend on the outcome of that process, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff describing Hamilton as “disillusioned” last month.

Asked if he expects Hamilton to drive in Formula One this year, Brown said he believes Hamilton’s competitive drive means he will return.

“He’s a racer, he’s at the top of his game,” Brown said.

“Sure, he’s very angry, but racers want to race. I think he’s a fighter and he’ll want to come back and win an eighth championship. I don’t think he’s ready to retire.

“I don’t think he’s ready to put it on. And I don’t think he’ll let an incident throw him into retirement.”

But with Hamilton’s position appearing to be part of Mercedes’ strategy of keeping up the pressure on the FIA ​​to ensure the right changes are made, Brown didn’t rule out the possibility that the Mercedes driver might not be able to continue.

Wolff said last month that the Mercedes team would hold the FIA ​​accountable in the process of implementing changes and that the threat of Formula 1’s biggest global star walking away on the eve of the season was its greatest weapon. But like all threats, it’s only worth it if you’re willing to go through with it.

“I would be shocked if he stopped, so I think nobody should assume he’s coming back, which I personally think he will,” said Brown when asked if F1 would underestimate Hamilton’s determination , if the possibility were excluded retirement.

“But I don’t think we should ignore or not acknowledge his frustration, his anger.

“Maybe he hasn’t made a decision and maybe he’s taking time to make that decision to be sure because once that decision is made, that decision is made.

“So I don’t think we should rule it out or take it lightly. Personally I just think he still has a burning desire to race and that will ultimately drive his decision. But that’s just one man’s opinion.”

Brown said he also believes that if Hamilton goes ahead, his on-track performances will not be affected by what happened.

He pointed to Hamilton’s performances towards the end of the 2021 season when the seven-time F1 champion kept his head and wasn’t too emotionally drawn to driving.

“Lewis is one of the smartest racers and he seems very focused when he’s in a race car with his helmet on,” said Brown.

“I don’t really see him driving emotionally. Look at the race in Saudi Arabia what an incredible ride and he stayed cool. And in Brazil he stayed cool.

“There’s a reason he’s won seven world championships. As upset as he might be about that, I don’t see it changing the way he drives when he puts the helmet on.”

Brown was also asked if Formula 1 needed to come up with a robust response to win back fans’ trust after the events in Abu Dhabi.

He said he believes that once F1 has a chance to move on from what happened in Abu Dhabi “the wounds will start to heal” and he disagrees with those who argue that the nature and way the 2021 season ended was evidence of corruption.

That’s because the calls from race officials weren’t malicious, but instead motivated by a desire to get a green flag finish – something all teams have been pushing for.

“For all the controversies in the sport, timely as the next season begins, the wounds begin to heal,” Brown said.

“I think the FIA ​​needs to come out with, ‘Here’s what happened, here’s why we think it happened, here’s what was right, here’s what was wrong’ – whatever they will bring out in the report – and then show that they have taken action to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

“I don’t think this was a malicious decision. So for those who might think the sport is corrupt etc. I disagree.

“Do I think a different decision could possibly have been made? yes possibly I’d like to wait and see what the FIA ​​comes out with but I don’t think it was malicious so I don’t think it’s corrupt.

“We’ve all seen in sport that referees make decisions that people don’t agree with. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong.

“It’s going to be pretty exciting and then the season starts and it soon becomes something you never forget, but it’s a thing of the past.”