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Bernie Ecclestone Thinks Lewis Hamilton Might Retire Ahead of the 2022 F1 Season

Bernie Ecclestone, the former boss of Formula 1, believes that Lewis Hamilton is not interested in returning to the sport in the 2022 season. While a recent report confirmed that the British driver has told his team he will continue to race, Bernie's statements contradict that story.
Lewis Hamilton walking away after his crash with Max Verstappen at the F1 race in Monza, 2021 31 photos
Photo: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
Lewis Hamilton driving his Mercedes-AMG W12 F1 carLewis Hamilton driving his Mercedes-AMG W12 F1 carLewis Hamilton driving his Mercedes-AMG W12 F1 car2021 Brazilian Grand Prix startLewis Hamilton battling Max Verstappen during 2021 Brazilian Grand PrixLewis Hamilton battling Max Verstappen during 2021 Brazilian Grand PrixLewis Hamilton battling Max Verstappen during 2021 Brazilian Grand PrixLewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crash, Monza, 2021Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crash, Monza, 2021Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crash, Monza, 2021Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crash, Monza, 2021Lewis Hamilton after Monza crash with Max VerstappenLewis Hamilton after Monza crash with Max VerstappenMercedes-AMG Petronas Withdraws AppealMercedes-AMG Petronas Withdraws AppealMercedes-AMG Petronas Withdraws AppealMercedes-AMG Petronas Withdraws AppealMercedes-AMG Petronas Withdraws AppealLewis Hamilton Final RaceLewis Hamilton Final RaceLewis Hamilton driving his Mercedes-AMG W12 F1 carLewis Hamilton driving his Mercedes-AMG W12 F1 carLewis Hamilton driving his Mercedes-AMG W12 F1 carLewis Hamilton driving his Mercedes-AMG W12 F1 car2021 Brazilian Grand Prix startLewis Hamilton battling Max Verstappen during 2021 Brazilian Grand PrixLewis Hamilton battling Max Verstappen during 2021 Brazilian Grand PrixLewis Hamilton battling Sergio Perez during 2021 Brazilian Grand PrixMercedes-AMG F1 team principal Toto WolffMax Verstappen Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Win
According to Bernie Ecclestone, the disappointment suffered by Lewis at the season finale was "too great," and the former head of F1 claims that he can "understand it in a way." With that in mind and Lewis' seven World Championship titles, just like Michael Schumacher, Ecclestone thinks the athlete plans to tackle a different career.

In an interview with the Swiss at Blick, Bernie Ecclestone claimed that Lewis Hamilton plans to follow his "dream of becoming a fashion entrepreneur." While the Britons' fashion choices and outlandish style have become evident in the past few years, we have yet to see Lewis' apparel brand.

It is worth noting that Bernie Ecclestone’s statements have been made without any prior discussions with Lewis Hamilton after the last race of the 2021 season. Moreover, Bernie Ecclestone has spoken with Anthony Hamilton, Lewis' father (and former manager), who was not asked about his son's career and plans on the assumption that he might not be willing to speak on the matter, as Ecclestone noted.

At this point, we should also note that Lewis Hamilton has not posted anything on social media since before the last race of the season, and his team has also kept communication to a minimum. Both Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff have skipped the FIA prize-giving gala in protest, even though presence was mandatory to those who had to pick up a prize.

The new president of the FIA has stated that the actions of the two members of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team will be analyzed before deciding on a penalty. It is important to underline the fact that the FIA had changed its president a few days after the gala, which might have prevented the former president from inflicting a penalty on Hamilton and Wolff.
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Editor's note: For illustration purposes, the photo gallery shows various images of Lewis Hamilton.

About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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