According to the BBC Sports’ website,Mercedes´ Lewis Hamilton is waiting to hear the outcome of the FIA enquiry on the controversial season finale 2021 at the Abu Dhabi GP in order to decide if he continues competing next year or retires.  

Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff, has declared that the seven-time champion is “disillusioned” with the F1 after what happened at the Yas Marina Circuit, where he was so close to conquering his eighth world title. 

The Austrian CEO started spreading doubts regarding the continuity of his star driver a few days after the conclusion of the last World Championship. The question is still in the air and the uncertainty about Hamilton’s future is not any clearer today.  

Lewis Hamilton, absent and away from social life  

The silence of the British champion on social networks as well as his lack of public appearances since the end of last season, has only fuelled rumours about his retirement. In this sense, many voices from the United Kingdom are talking about the disenchantment and loss of trust with the FIA of the #44. 

When asked about Hamilton’s immediate future by the BBC, the team from Brackley declined to comment on the matter. There is however a point of agreement between the 37-year-old champion and his team regarding the next step to take: To wait for the resolution of the aforementioned governing body regarding the thorny issues raised by the race in Abu Dhabi. 

The new FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, recently stated that he got in touch with Hamilton five days after the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP to find out how he was feeling first-hand. Aware of the distress of the Estevenage driver, the FIA has launched an investigation into what happened in Yas Marina, and the recovery of Hamilton’s trust will depend on the conclusions reached in that inquiry. 

Masi’s future, a possible trade-off  

Masi’s future is on the line as a result of his management of the race, which followed a season marked by an inconsistent application of the rules. According to BBC Sport, a reliable source has leaked that Mercedes agreed to withdraw their appeal for the result of the race as part of a secret agreement with the FIA. This pact is rumoured to include the dismissal of both Masi and Nikolas Tombazis, head of FIA single-seater technical matters, into 2022. 

Mercedes’ however, denies those rumours and sustain that they changed their position after receiving guarantees that the issues raised in Yas Marina would be investigated in-depth and that the FIA would adopt measures in this regard. Wolff himself vowed last December that Mercedes “would hold the FIA to account“. He did not clarify how he intended to do so, although he said that he was confident that the teams, in collaboration with the FIA, would reach a “stronger decision-making process”. 

The image of the F1 deteriorates  

Formula One experts are said to be concerned that the governing body of motorsports has not fully understood the threat to its credibility posed by the final race of the season. 

The FIA nonetheless, has so far not ruled on the issues raised by the Yas Marina race, issues that are to be addressed in order to heal the relationship with Mercedes and improve their decision-making process. Be that as it may, the world motorsport governing body admitted in a statement in December that the events in Abu Dhabi were “tarnishing the image” of F1. 

Images of Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team