Formula 1: Mercedes drop another Lewis Hamilton hint

Mercedes again made somewhat of a subtle indication of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton’s future in the sport.

There have been many questions surrounding the Formula 1 future, or lack thereof, of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton after the 2021 season concluded in dramatic and controversial fashion last month in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.

Hamilton saw what would have been a record-breaking eighth world championship and a record-tying fifth in a row slip away on the final lap of the season’s 22nd and final race when Red Bull’s Max Verstappen passed him to secure the race win and his first world title.

Aside from his post-race interview with Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath of the race, Hamilton has been silent since the season ended, even skipping the FIA prize-giving gala that he was required to attend as a top three finisher in the standings.

His most recent social media posts are the pictures he posted the day before the race after the qualifying session.

While Hamilton signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes during the 2021 season to remain with the team through the 2023 campaign, some of the rumors currently swirling suggest that the 37-year-old Briton may walk away from Formula 1 and retire before the 2022 season ends because of how the 2021 season ended.

Nothing has been confirmed, but Mercedes dropped a subtle hint that Hamilton will not actually be walking away from the sport and will instead be returning for a 10th season with the team in 2022.

Now they may have dropped another.

In honor of Hamilton’s 37th birthday on Friday, January 7, the team posted pictures and asked fans which of his record 103 wins is their favorite.

https://twitter.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/1479513311645507586

Seems pretty straightforward, right? Nothing to see here?

But in their Facebook post of the same, they included the words “and counting” after the words “103 F1 wins”.

The only way it’s really “103 F1 wins and counting” is if Hamilton returns to the Silver Arrows.

This doesn’t sound like a team with any doubts about their star driver returning for the 2022 season, regardless of the speculation and the various reports indicating otherwise — unless, of course, they are intentionally misleading fans, a highly unlikely scenario.

We’ve already seen one pretty clear indication from Mercedes of a Hamilton return. At this point, it really seems like only a matter of time before things get squared away and the public are made aware of his true plans for the upcoming season.

With the first of two preseason tests scheduled to take place next month at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from Monday, February 21 to Friday, February 25, expect to know sooner rather than later.

The 2022 season is officially scheduled to begin at Bahrain International Circuit with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, March 20, roughly a week after the second preseason test is scheduled to take place at the track (Thursday, March 10 to Saturday, March 12).