Lewis Hamilton issues fired up 2022 F1 statement

Lewis Hamilton has said his best levels are yet to come in 2022 and admits that Thursday’s removal of Michael Masi as Race Director is the first step towards him rebuilding trust in the FIA and the system around the sport.

The Mercedes driver saw what would have been a record-breaking 8th world title in Formula 1 dramatically and controversially snatched away from him on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and many wondered whether that would spark an exit from the sport for the Briton.

Indeed, his trust in the way the sport is run, he admits, was undermined following on from those closing laps as Michael Masi made an unprecedented call over cars unlapping themselves behind the Safety Car, but he has also welcomed the changes the FIA has announced earlier this week, including the removal of Masi as Race Director for 2022.

“Of course at the end of seasons you think and the question is whether you’re willing to commit the time the effort that it takes to be a world champion,” said Hamilton to the media after the launch of his car for next season; the W13.

“I think a lot of people underestimate what it takes to be a world champion.

“And there are so many moving parts. It’s not just turning up and driving the car.

“So yeah, the question is, do you want to sacrifice the time? Do you believe that you can continue to punch at the weight that you’re punching?

“And so that’s a normal kind of mental process for me.

“But of course this one was compounded by a significant factor.

“Ultimately in a sport that I’ve loved my whole life, there was a moment where I kind of obviously lost a little bit of faith within the system.

“But I’m generally a very determined person and I like to think to myself whilst moments like this might