Mercedes substitute driver Stoffel Vandoorne is confident that Lewis Hamilton will “come back even stronger” in 2022, despite some fears that he could withdraw completely from Formula 1 before the new season.
Silver Arrows team boss Toto Wolff caused panic when he said last month: “I would very much hope that Lewis keeps going because he is the greatest driver of all time.”
Hamilton, 36, is still digesting disappointment that he missed his eighth F1 driver title in such controversial circumstances at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in mid-December.
Red Bull rival Max Verstappen was instead the winner thanks to an overtaking maneuver on the final lap after a safety car that came after Hamilton built a healthy lead at the front despite badly worn tires.
Hamilton has not posted on social media since the race despite being knighted by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle.
MUST READ: Hamilton Retirement, Alonso Plan: Five Things to Look For In 2022
That has sparked speculation among comments from Wolff and others outside of Mercedes that the seven-time world champion might give it up.
However, Mercedes’ Formula E racing driver and reserve driver Vandoorne, who has not competed in Formula 1 since scoring 12 points for McLaren in 2018, expects Hamilton to return to the grid in 2022.
And the Belgian also expects the Brit, who snubbed the FIA awards gala at the end of the season in Paris, to have a fire in his stomach after such a frustrating end of the preseason.
Speaking to RTBF, Vandoorne said: “Lewis didn’t post anything on social media after the race and I think he must have felt very bad that he lost so much on the last lap when he was in control and not putting it down one foot wrong during the race.
DON’T MISS: Verstappen must heed Hamilton warning as a British citizen to prove Bernie wrong
“He will definitely have a hard time accepting what happened in Abu Dhabi, but he is still so eager to push himself and do better that I’m sure he will use all of these events as motivation to come back even stronger. “
He added, “I just think the management didn’t want the Grand Prix to end under the safety car for the final decision on a championship like this, but there are rules that have to be followed after a safety car.
“They let the lapped cars through, but they should have done an extra lap and they didn’t.
“So, yes, given that scenario, I think Lewis was robbed, but the title wasn’t lost on the last lap of the last race.
“Let’s remember that Mercedes had a poor performance and no pace at the start of the season against Red Bull, who used this to fill a gap.”
The 2022 Formula 1 season begins on the weekend of March 18-20 in Bahrain, with each team expected to launch their 2022 cars from mid-February.
