LEWIS HAMILTON is set to break his silence on his F1 return and controversial world title loss this Friday.
The British superstar was the subject of retirement rumours throughout the last two months, as he took a break from the public spotlight.
But after confirming that he’s returning to Mercedes for another season, Hamilton will speak this Friday as his team reveal their new car.
He’ll join Silver Arrows principal Toto Wolff and new team-mate George Russell on a live stream beamed across the world.
The trio will chat as part of the broadcast, which will also give an exclusive first look at the Mercedes-AMG F1 W13 E Performance that will take to the grid next month.
F1 fans’ excitement is building ahead of the new season, with a number of teams having already revealed their new cars.
The first pre-season testing will take place in Barcelona next week, although won’t feature live, race-style coverage.
Official testing, with live TV access and fans present, will then go ahead in Bahrain between March 10-12, with the first Grand Prix of the season set to take place in the same location a week later.
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Mercedes were left furious by Michael Masi’s decision to let Max Verstappen unlap himself behind the safety car at the end of the now-infamous Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.
The last minute changing of the rules cost Hamilton the world title, and led to calls for Masi’s job from fans.
FIA chiefs this week delayed the publishing of a report into Masi’s blunder, but have hinted that he WILL be allowed to stay on as race director.
Meanwhile in F1, trouble may be afoot for Mercedes’ main title rivals Red Bull ahead of the new season.
Team adviser Helmut Marko admitted: “We faced two or three big hurdles. It was the biggest change in regulations in the last 15 or 20 years.
“All the new designs and planning had to be done within the budget cap. And then we were fighting for a World Championship and had to move the new car forward at the same time.”
