Lewis Hamilton’s future in Formula 1 could depend on the results of last month’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix poll.
Andrew Benson (BBC Sport reports that the seven-time world champion driver has lost confidence in the board of directors of F1 after that the director of the AIF, Michael Masi, incorrectly applied the rules in times of safety car in the race was able to win Max Verstappen from Red Bull, representing both the race and the title.
Last month, Mercedes BOSS Toto Wolff said the 37-year-old Hamilton had become “disillusioned” with F1.
“I’m in daily dialogue with him,” Wolff said. “But there’s not much to talk about at the moment. Each of us in his own way faces the feelings that we are experiencing at the moment. I just have to do the best I can to help him overcome the feelings he is experiencing so that he comes back strong next year with a love of the sport and a confidence in the decision-making of the sport. And we very much wish that this is the matter.”
F1 had previously stated that the investigation would be completed in time for “all relevant feedback and conclusions to be made before the start of the season”.
The season is expected to start in Bahrain on March 20, but the pre-season tests will begin on February 21. 23.
Benson notes that some F1 insiders do not believe that the sports board appreciates the blow to the credibility of F1 with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and others do not see how Masi can keep his post as a result of the investigation.
A native of Stevenage, England, Hamilton is a veteran of 15 F1 seasons. He would remain on his current contract with Mercedes for another two years.
