Formula 1: Will Lewis Hamilton return to the sport in 2021?

Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport expires at the end of the 2020 Formula 1 season. Will he return to the sport in 2021?

This past summer, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport’s Lewis Hamilton signed a two-year contract extension to continue driving for Mercedes through the 2020 Formula 1 season. The five-time champion is set to enter his 13th season of Formula 1 competition this year.

Hamilton himself has hinted, even before he signed this two-year contract extension, that the 2020 season could be his final season driving for Mercedes and that he could “hand the baton” to Mercedes junior driver George Russell, who is set to drive full-time in Formula for the first time in his career for Williams Racing in the 2019 season.

Here is what Hamilton had to say about the possibility of no longer driver for Mercedes once the 2020 season reaches its conclusion, according to ESPN.

"“While the car is in this form of rules until 2021 at least, I think that’s going to be the window I’m still here. Who knows? Maybe in 2021 I’ll hand the baton over to [Mercedes junior] George [Russell]. He’ll be there anyway before then. I’m going to keep going.”"

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But even if Hamilton is replaced by Russell at the Silver Arrows for the 2021 season, would the 73-time Grand Prix winner leave Formula 1 altogether once the 2020 season ends?

There have already been rumors that the 34-year-old Briton will drive for Scuderia Ferrari in the 2021 season on a one-year deal or in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons on a two-year deal and then retire after that. After all, five drivers have won at least four championships in Formula 1, and Hamilton is the only one who has never driven for the Italian team.

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, who has driven for Ferrari since the 2015 season, signed a three-year contract extension with the team in the summer of 2017 to continue driving for them through the 2020 season, which could open the door for Hamilton to replace him ahead of the 2021 season.

But without getting into specifics regarding for which team Hamilton will drive in the 2021 season if he does indeed return to Formula 1, let’s focus on the question at hand: will he return to the sport in the 2021 season?

Given how close he is to breaking the all-time Formula 1 championships and wins records, which are both currently held by seven-time champion and 91-time Grand Prix winner Michael Schumacher, the idea of Hamilton signing a new contract to continue driving in the sport in the 2021 season and perhaps beyond does not seem too far-fetched.

But an additional development makes this idea seem even less far-fetched.

In September, photos of the concept car for the 2021 season were revealed, and Hamilton likes the idea driving one of these cars.

Here is what Hamilton had to say about the matter on his Instagram story, according to Express.

"“This s*** looks dope af. I’m definitely going to be driving if cars look like this…just please bring a V12 or V10 back”"

No matter how you look at it, it is highly unlikely that the 2020 season will be Hamilton’s final season competing in Formula 1. He could very well sign another contract extension to continue driving for Mercedes, and if not, he could sign a contract to drive for Ferrari.

Will Lewis Hamilton return to Formula 1 in the 2021 season for what would likely be his 15th season competing in the sport? If so, for which team will he drive?