Formula 1: Things aren’t looking great for Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton looks as though he really could be penalized for skipping the FIA prize-giving gala after the 2021 Formula 1 season, adding even more salt in the wound.

By not attending the FIA prize-giving gala this past week in Paris, France after the 2021 Formula 1 season concluded on Sunday at Yas Marina Circuit, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton violated Formula 1 sporting regulations.

Hamilton, along with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, boycotted the ceremony after a controversial restart in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix led to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen overtaking Hamilton to win the race and the world title on the final lap.

This sequence of events denied Hamilton what would have been a record-breaking eighth world championship and a record-tying fifth in a row.

But because he finished the 22-race season in second place in the driver standings, Hamilton, who was knighted by Prince Charles at Windsor Castle earlier in the week, was required to attend the gala on Thursday; the top three finishers are required to attend.

Article 6.6 of Formula 1’s Sporting Regulations states the following:

"“The drivers finishing first, second and third in the Championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony.”"

Verstappen was in attendance, as was Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, who finished the season in third place in the driver standings.

Mercedes chief technical officer James Allison was there to pick up the team’s trophy for winning their record eighth consecutive constructor championship.

Given the circumstances that led to Hamilton skipping the ceremony and the fact that it was all but expected, specifically after Mercedes elected not to send their championship-winning Formula 1 and Formula E cars to Paris for pre-gala photographs, many thought that nothing much would be made of it.

However, that may not be case after all, as “rules are rules”.

With Jean Todt stepping down from his position as FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem was elected to replace him, and this will be one of the first issues with which he is faced.

He claimed that there can be “no forgiveness” if Hamilton is found to have breached Formula 1 sporting regulations.

"“At the end of the day, rules are rules. So we are going to look into the side of where the technical rules are there to be employed and was he in breach? I have to look into it. Of course, we’ll have to also be following our rules. But in the meanwhile, it doesn’t stop us from making a champion feel good about the sport, you know.“It’s easy to be nice to people. And it is cheap to be nice. And it’s also to motivate people. But definitely, if there is any breach, there is no forgiveness in this. Forgiveness is always there, but rules are rules. We look at the rules. And I always say: rules are not made. A human made them, and they can be improved and changed by humans. So the rules are there to be improved.“I know that Lewis is really sad about what happened and one word I would say is he’s broken. But we have to look if there was any breach.”"

If it is determined that Hamilton did indeed violate this rule (which, in all likelihood, it will be, given the straightforwardness of it), he will probably be fined. The fine would come amid rumors that he may opt to retire from Formula 1 and not return for the 2022 season, given what happened on Sunday.