Formula 1: Surprising new Lewis Hamilton development emerges

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton was reported to have returned to social media in a video, but a new development sheds light on why that was not actually true.

Since missing out on what would have been a record-breaking eighth Formula 1 world championship in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit back in December, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton has been silent.

After the last-lap heartbreak, which saw him passed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for not only the race win but the world title after the two had entered the 2021 season’s 22nd and final race tied on points, he was interviewed by Sky Sports, but since then, he has not addressed the public.

His most recent posts on social media are still the pictures he shared the day before the race, when he qualified alongside Verstappen on the front row.

He has practically disappeared from public view except for when he was knighted at Windsor Castle a few days after the season finale.

This whole sequence has led to rumors that a disgusted and heartbroken Hamilton may decide to retire from Formula 1 before the 2022 season, despite the fact that last summer saw him sign a contract extension to remain with Mercedes through 2023.

But earlier this week, it was reported that Hamilton had returned to social media.

Hamilton and George Russell, who is replacing Valtteri Bottas at the Silver Arrows ahead of the 2022 season, appeared in a video that Mercedes shared on Chinese social media platform Weibo which celebrated the Chinese New Year.

In the article, the 37-year-old Briton stated the following:

"“Hi everyone, I wish you a Happy Chinese New Year. May the New Year bring you good luck and everything you wish for.”"

This naturally led to speculation that Hamilton is committed to a 2022 return. But RacingNews365 have since confirmed that this is misleading, and that he only appeared in this video earlier this week because of the fact that the video was recorded toward the end of the 2021 season — before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

So he has still not yet addressed the public in almost two months.

With Mercedes set to launch their 2022 challenger two weeks from today and preseason testing scheduled to start shortly thereafter, one must question how long he can go on without making a public appearance, if he is to drive again in 2022. How long of a heads-up would Mercedes need to find a replacement if he plans to retire?

Hamilton is supposedly waiting to find out the results of an FIA investigation into the events of the season finale before he makes his decision, but those results are not slated to be released until Friday, March 18, just two days before the season is scheduled to begin with the Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on Sunday, March 20.

Mercedes are set to launch their 2022 car on Friday, February 18, and preseason testing is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, February 23 to Friday, February 25 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and then from Thursday, March 10 to Saturday, March 12 at Bahrain International Circuit.