Lewis Hamilton returned to social media on Saturday after a long silence that dates back to last season’s controversial Formula 1 finale.
Posted at 2:23 p.m.
Hamilton had faded from public view after being robbed of a record eighth championship at the last race in December in Abu Dhabi. He reappeared on Saturday with a message that shows the seven-time champion, smiling, at a location that appears to be the Grand Canyon.
” I was absent. Now I’m back! wrote Hamilton.
Hamilton gave a brief interview following his December 12 loss to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi. He did not attend the mandatory press conference or gala in Paris, and his last public appearance came three days after the Abu Dhabi race, when Hamilton received his knighthood at Windsor Castle.
Hamilton declined to speak to the media at Windsor Castle and his last social media post was the night before the season finale.
Speculation is rife that Hamilton, who turned 37 last month, could retire from F1, still frustrated with the way the championship has been decided. Both Hamilton and his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff missed the mandatory end-of-season awards ceremony, held four days after the final.
Hamilton’s absence from the gala is being investigated by the FIA, which elected its new president Mohammed Ben Sulayem the day after the gala. Sulayem also promised a mid-February report on the results of the FIA’s in-depth review of the Abu Dhabi finale.
Hamilton was minutes away from breaking Michael Schumacher’s record with an eighth title, until a late incident involving a back-of-the-grid car changed the end of the race. Verstappen then beat Hamilton to the restart on the final lap.
PHOTO ROBYN BECK, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Max Verstappen’s victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix secured him the title of world champion.
Hamilton had a nearly 12-second lead over second-placed Verstappen when the accident prompted a yellow flag with five laps remaining. Verstappen went to the pits for fresh tires while Hamilton stayed on track. The race director first said late drivers could not pass the safety car, then reversed the call in a decision that dropped Verstappen into second place when the race resumed with one lap to go.
Verstappen then passed Hamilton, thanks to his fresh tyres, to win his first world championship.