How Hamilton plans to come back stronger than ever in F1 2022

'I’m back and stronger than ever' was Hamilton's clear message, and he left those who heard him speak in no doubt that he absolutely meant what he said.

Following the controversial finish to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton made a few generous comments about new world champion Max Verstappen in parc ferme. But, understandably given the circumstances in which he lost a title he looked set to win, he took no part in any other TV or media activities that evening.

A few days later he appeared at a Mercedes event in Brackley to celebrate Mercedes' latest constructors’ world championship success. Afterwards he went off the grid, staying away from social media and thus not letting the world know where he was, or what he was thinking. Of course, people in all walks of life are perfectly entitled to switch off from work over the Christmas and New Year period for a couple of weeks. But as Hamilton’s silence continued, so the speculation about his future continued.

Mercedes did little to dampen it – indeed, a sceptic might suggest that the threat of F1's biggest star walking away provided extra motivation to both new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to push on with changes to the race direction system that were outlined this week.

What people perhaps didn’t appreciate is that even if Hamilton had won his eighth title, he still would have been absent for a while. Yes, he would have attended the FIA prize giving and honoured a few pre-Christmas media or sponsor commitments, but he would then have had an extended break anyway.

No observer can fully appreciate what it takes to operate at the level required to take the fight to Verstappen, especially towards the end of the 2021 season as the title