MADRID, 18 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The British driver Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has assured that he has “never” said that he was going to retire after the end of last season, when he lost the world title in the last race, although he has acknowledged that it was a moment “difficult to digest” and that it made him lose “a little faith” in the sport.
“I never said I was going to stop, but it was a tough time for me and I really needed to take a step back. I had my family around me. It got to a point where I decided I was going to be attacking again going into another season. “, he pointed out during the presentation of the Mercedes car for the 2022 season.
“At the end of every season, the question I ask myself is if I’m willing to put in the time and effort it takes to be world champion. A lot of people underestimate what it takes to be champion. Do I want to sacrifice time? That’s a normal mental process for me, but this year it was compounded by a major factor about a sport I’ve loved all my life,” he explained.
However, he acknowledged that what happened in Yas Marina in the last Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) snatched the title from him at the last breath after a controversial decision by race director Michael Masi, made him lose “a little faith”. “I put faith and trust side by side and trust can be lost in the blink of an eye or the flick of a finger, but I’m a determined person and I like to think that while moments like this can define other people’s careers, I will refuse to let them define mine.”
“Obviously it was a difficult time for me. I just unplugged and powered off. It took me a while to digest what happened and it’s still hard to fully understand everything. This has nothing to do with Max, Max did everything a pilot would do given the opportunity that was given to him. I don’t hold grudges, it’s not good. I move forward, I don’t dwell on the past. I feel fresh, focused and I have nothing to stop me,” he continued.
In addition, he spoke about the dismissal of Michael Masi as Formula 1 race director. “Although we cannot change the past, and nothing will ever change how I felt at the time, it is good to see that the FIA is taking steps to improve, and “Accountability is key. We have to use this moment to make sure this never happens to anyone else in this sport.”