Formula 1: Things going from bad to worse for Lewis Hamilton?

If he returns to Formula 1 for the 2022 season, Lewis Hamilton could end up being hit with a grid penalty for the opening race.

Ever since the 2021 Formula 1 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit unfolded the way it did, rumors have been swirling that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton could decide to call it quits, despite the fact that he signed a two-year contract extension this past summer.

Hamilton had dominated the race before a late safety car period, during which title rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull came into the pits for new soft tires. Hamilton, meanwhile, stayed out on old hard tires.

With one lap remaining, the race was restarted, but only after the five lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen were allowed to unlap themselves.

So the final lap began with nobody between the two.

With Verstappen on much newer tires, he passed Hamilton in turn five of the 16-turn, 3.281-mile (5.280-kilometer) road course. He held off two separate challenges from Hamilton throughout the remainder of the lap en route to securing a 2.256-second victory. Lap 58 of 58 was the only lap of the race which Verstappen led; Hamilton had led 51 of the other 57.

Disgusted with how the final safety car period and ensuing restart were managed by race director Michael Masi, Hamilton, along with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, boycotted the FIA prize giving gala in Paris, France later in the week, despite the fact that the team did not submit an official appeal after having both of their protests dismissed by the FIA.

Because Hamilton finished the season in second place in the driver standings, his absence at this event was a clear violation of Article 6.6 of Formula 1’s Sporting Regulations.

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

Many had wondered whether or not, given how the situation unfolded, Hamilton would actually be penalized for violating this rule.

But with Jean Todt stepping down from his position as FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem was elected to take his place, and he has already said that there can be “no forgiveness” if indeed a rule was breached.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that a rule was indeed breached.

The initial thought was that Hamilton, who may very well opt to step away from the sport anyway, would simply be fined for the violation.

However, could he instead face a 10-place grid penalty for the 2022 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit, provided he returns?

If he is given a reprimand as opposed to a fine, it’s quite possible, given what FIA regulations state about the accumulation of three reprimands.

"“Any driver who receives three (3) reprimands in the same championship will, upon the imposition of the third, be given a ten (10) grid place penalty for the race at that event. If the third reprimand is imposed following an incident during a race, the ten (10) grid place penalty will be applied at the driver’s next event. The ten (10) grid place penalty will only be imposed if at least two (2) of the reprimands were imposed for a driving infringement.”"

Leading up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton had been issued two reprimands for driving infringements, once during practice for November’s Mexican Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and another one during practice for December’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Could a case be made that these three events all took place during the same championship, despite the fact that the third one took place after the season ended?

A penalty is already being discussed by the FIA, though there are questions as to how and when one may be decided upon; there is no precedent for such a snub.