Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he had needed to take a step back in order to deal with the events at the end of last season, which saw him lose the world championship in dramatic and controversial circumstances.
Hamilton had dominated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix until a late safety car resulted in a single lap shootout to the finish line with his rival Max Verstappen.
Decisions from race control on how to handle the restart meant Verstappen had an unassailable advantage, and the Dutch driver duly won the race and clinched the title. While Mercedes initially appealed the outcome, they decided not to pursue a formal protest.
"It was obviously a difficult time for me. It was a time where I really need a step back, focus on being present," Hamilton told the media on Friday at the launch event for Mercedes' 2022 car. “I had my family all around me, creating great moments."
It's the first time since that weekend that Hamilton has spoken publicly about what happened on the night. But it was clear that he was already looking forward rather than back.
“Eventually I got to the point where I decided I was going to be attacking again coming into another season, working with Toto and George," he said, referring to team principal Toto Wolff and his new team mate George Russell, who replaces Valtteri Bottas in the line-up.
“It’s exciting seeing George come in and bringing his energy," Hamilton said of the newcomer at Brackley. "I can already feel that within the team. It’s going to be an exciting season.
“I love doing what I do,” he continued. “It is such a privilege working with this large group of people. When you feel like you’re part of a family, part of a team, working towards that common goal - there’s no feeling quite like it.
There had been rumours that Hamilton had been left so disillusioned with the state of officiating in Formula 1 that he might not even return in 2022. However both he and Wolff say that this was never a genuine possibility - even if Masi had remained in his role as race director.
“Well, I never ever said I was going to stop," Hamilton stated emphatically.
Yesterday the new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that Masi would take up a new role at the governing body, and that Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich would alternate in the role with former deputy race director Herbie Blash returning as a senior advisor to both men.
"It’s very encouraging to see action has been taken,” Wolff said of the reforms. "There’s a much more robust structure now and a support structure now for the race director," adding that the FIA had taken the "right steps".
"I have never seen him more determined," added Wolff when asked about Hamilton's response to the situation heading into the new season. "Lewis is the best driver in the world.
"He is in love with the sport and we are ready to hunt for victories and hopefully the world championship. He is in the right mindset."
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