Could disappointing 2022 struggles cause Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton to retire from Formula One?

Lewis Hamilton admitted his bid for a championship is over this season — but could that disappointment prompt him to retire at the end of the campaign? Hamilton is a seven-time champion, whose last victory drew him level with Michael Schumacher. At the time, it appeared he would be favourite to claim an eighth, to set him apart from the best ever, and to become the unparalleled greatest.

Ad/> Instead, he was usurped as the reigning champion by Max Verstappen in controversial circumstances. While Formula One admitted the course of action to create that situation was due to human error, the result was not overturned, and Hamilton was essentially invited to deal with that injustice with no recourse.

It was rumoured that he could walk away from the sport due to the disappointment, but ultimately he elected to sign a new, two-year contract with Mercedes and look to the future. Emilia-Romagna Grand PrixHamilton admits Mercedes will 'obviously not fight for the championship' after Sprint failure3 HOURS AGO The future is here, and it is doubly disappointing.

After 14th place at the Imola Sprint on Saturday afternoon, it was clear that the brief moment of hope from Free Practice 2 was nothing to build a challenge on. After the race’s conclusion, he admitted that Mercedes «obviously are not fighting for the championship.» Given teammate George Russell currently sits in third — ahead of Red Bull who have clearly not thrown in the towel — that casts serious doubts on Hamilton’s enthusiasm for what the team can achieve this season, and certainly not for himself.

Of course, every driver is out for themselves first, but Russell might have reason to be disappointed. He could conceivably challenge for honours, but his more senior