The 2022 Formula 1 season is now just under two months away, and teams are ramping up preparations for the new campaign.
However, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the future of Lewis Hamilton, who has yet to be heard publicly since the highly controversial last race of last season.
Speculation persists that the seven-time world champion could up and quit the sport following his heartbreaking defeat to Max Verstappen in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which cost him his record-breaking eighth world title.
Meanwhile, Ferrari and Mercedes have both announced their car launch dates, and Australian Grand Prix organisers have clarified their stance on vaccine exemptions.
Read on below as SBOTOP gets you all caught up with all the latest news in the Formula 1 world.
Hamilton future still shrouded in mystery
Lewis Hamilton has not made any public comments since the stunning events in Abu Dhabi which cost him another world championship.
Although, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said shortly after the season finale that he and Hamilton were “disillusioned” with the controversial events in Abu Dhabi and that they “will never get over it,” which then fueled speculation that Hamilton might decide to retire.
McLaren chief Zak Brown then took things a step further with his recent comments suggesting he wouldn’t be surprised if Hamilton called it quits.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if he stopped, so no one should take for granted that he is coming back,” Brown said when asked about Hamilton’s future.
“We should not discount or not recognize his frustration, his anger. Maybe he has not made a decision and what he is doing is taking time to make that decision to make sure. Because once it’s made, it’s made, I don’t think we should rule it out or make light of it.”
Meanwhile, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was a bit more optimistic that Hamilton would return for another season.
“I’m sure he will recharge his batteries and come back with even more desire than before to win an eighth world title,” F1 CEO Domenicali said to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Despite his disappointing defeat last season, Formula 1 2022 odds should still have Hamilton as the favourite to win the world championship if he does return to race.
It remains to be seen when Hamilton will decide to publicly discuss his future, but with the season edging closer, the wait may not be too much longer.
Mercedes, Ferrari announce car launch dates
In fact, Hamilton is scheduled to appear in the launch of Mercedes’ new car to be held on February 18. The “special digital launch event” at Silverstone is set to feature both Mercedes drivers, Hamilton and new teammate George Russell, conducting virtual media interviews along with a test drive of the new car at the circuit.
Aside from what could possibly be Hamilton’s first public appearance since last season’s finale, it will also be a first look at Russell in a Mercedes car after he replaced Valtteri Bottas.
Mercedes are the fourth team to make Formula 1 2022 news with the announcement of their new car’s launch date after Aston Martin, McLaren, and Ferrari, who will launch their car the day before on February 17.
Testing will get underway at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona in late February before moving to Bahrain on March 10-12.
Australian GP will not have vaccination exemptions
The Australian Grand Prix will enforce a complete ban on all Covid-19 vaccination exemptions, which means vaccination will be required to take part in the race.
Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix chief Andrew Westacott said the terms and conditions of participation in the event were clear.
“The rules are simple to get into the country and the rules are simple to operate in Formula One,” Westacott said.
“To come into the event you’ll be 100 per cent vaccinated and there won’t be an exemption sought for anyone from anyone.”
Australia’s Covid vaccination rules have made headlines worldwide recently after tennis star Novak Djokovic was deported and unable to defend his Australian Open title amid his unvaccinated status. But Westacott claims the Djokovic situation did not play any part in their protocols.
“Our arrangements have been in place well before the recent goings-on at the Australian Open,” he said.
“These rules are understood by Formula One, they’re understood by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), they’re going to be written into the sporting regulations and I’m very confident that [it] is just going to be a rite of passage to come into the country.”
The Australian Grand Prix, which has not been held since 2019 amid the pandemic, is set to make its return on April 8-10.
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