Lews Hamilton: That’s why 2022 could be the year again

This article first appeared on RTL.de.

Lewis Hamilton’s last Instagram post is almost a month old. From last year, felt like a different era. The photo is dated December 11th, when the world seemed alright, the F1 title, the eighth, more than within reach. Alone: ​​A crash by Nicholas Latifi and a wild safety car phase with a Verstappen eruption in the very last lap in Abu Dhabi buried the dream of the record title.

Mercedes, and with that especially Hamilton and team principal Toto Wolff, were obviously in a state of shock. When the objections and protests were dismissed, Wolff was the first to break the silence and explain how big the disappointment and anger really had been.

Hamilton congratulated the new champion dutifully after the race – then went into the mental tunnel. No statement, skipped the mandatory FIA gala, radio silence in the otherwise well-maintained social media accounts, he even disregarded all profiles. Hamilton apparently needed rest. Rest from the stress of the finals and a long year with the record calendar of 22 races.

And how it is then: The rumors of resignation spilled over faster than the inclined Mercedes fan can call “Michael Masi”. Ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone interfered from the F1-Off: He does not believe that Hamilton would return. So far, so is the normal circus.

The lost world championship crown was definitely a big blow to the Mercedes stomach – especially for Hamilton, the serial winner who is spoiled for success. And at the age of 37, the Briton is no longer the youngest – after the resignation of Kimi Räikkönen, he is even the second oldest driver in the field behind Fernando Alonso, with whom he had an epic duel in Hungary.

Otherwise, however, there is very little to be said for a resignation. On the contrary. 2022 will be the year in which Mercedes is the hunter again, the hunter of the “cops” – with knives between their teeth.

The racing team has something to make up for. Last year, the Silver Arrows (which they will be again with their paintwork in 2022), the underbody change in the regulations, fell asleep. With their low-rake concept (low angle of attack), the team received a big aero damper. For years there has finally been a duel at eye level again. And if Hamilton hadn’t been in top form – Red Bull and Verstappen would have driven away from the racing team with the star. The seven-time world champion hardly made any mistakes and squeezed the maximum out of the car, which can also be seen from the meager yield of his team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

George Russell makes Lewis Hamilton fire in the future

Hamilton’s garage neighbor has a new name this year. George Russell comes from Williams and is considered the Crown Prince, the future world champion. So far there have been a lot of nice words between the two of them. Nevertheless: Russell will light a fire for Hamilton – but at the same time, you don’t have to lean too far out of the window, to be of greater help in the fight against the “cops” Verstappen and Sergio Perez. And Hamilton has already won a lot, the prospect of the eighth world title with which he would leave Michael Schumacher behind – should let dopamine and adrenaline shoot through Hamilton’s body. Speaking of Schumi. The 37-year-old has stolen many records from the German F1 emperor, but a few are still missing here – for example hat tricks and fastest race laps. And don’t forget: he still has a valid employment contract until the end of 2023.

New car, new rules, new team-mate, prospect of a record and revenge and the opportunity to show everyone again: there is no lack of motivation for Hamilton. And he also has experience with defeat. After the bitter knockout against Nico Rosberg in 2016, he won four titles in a row.

So the year 2022 begins in silence for Hamilton. But it could soon get louder again and end with a record bang.