Mercedes have appeared to confirm Lewis Hamilton’s return to the grid for the 2022 Formula 1 season.
There has been conjecture over the seven-time world champion’s future since the controversial end to last season in Abu Dhabi, and suggestions he could walk away from the sport.
But last night, Mercedes tweeted ‘Welcome back Lewis Hamilton’ in front of a montage of well-wishing social media messages.
Those messages came in the wake of Hamilton, who has not spoken publicly since the events in Abu Dhabi, posting a message on Instagram saying, “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!”
Hamilton has not yet officially confirmed he will definitely return for a shot at an eighth world title after narrowly losing out to Max Verstappen last season.
But the latest messages appear to suggest it is a done deal ahead of the findings of an investigation into the events of the last race being shared with an F1 commission meeting next Monday, before which Hamilton and the rest of the drivers are expected to be briefed.
The investigation centres on FIA race director Michael Masi’s controversial call to allow the five cars between then race leader Hamilton and Verstappen to unlap themselves and pass Hamilton but not the rest of the field, a move which left the Briton a sitting duck in the last moments of the race.
