LEWIS HAMILTON’S Formula One return has been all-but confirmed by Mercedes after the star made his social media comeback.
The 37-year-old had remained silent since December’s controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – where he lost his world title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The Brit is understood to have been considering QUITTING the sport.
That was after he missed out on a record eighth championship on the final lap in the Middle East.
But Hamilton suggested he is ready to go again to his 26.8million Instagram followers yesterday.
He shared a snap of him smiling in front of the Grand Canyon captioned: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!”
Mercedes were quick to comment, as they messaged: “Welcome back.”
‘He is back’ soon started trending on social media, to which Mercedes shared and then messaged again: “That’s right.”
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There still has been no official confirmation yet from the team or driver but it’s the biggest hint yet he will be back in action next season.
And there is unlikely to be any further comment until the FIA delivers the results of its investigation into what happened in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton was leading by ten seconds going into lap 54 in last season’s finale, only to have victory cruelly snatched away after the deployment of a safety car.
He has since been accused of trying to get FIA Race Director Michael Masi the sack, after he failed to obey the correct rules by allowing lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen to overtake.
That resulted in a one-lap sprint to decide the title, Verstappen’s fresher tyres making all the difference.
Hamilton is due to report back to Mercedes duty on February 23 for pre-season testing.
The opening race of the 2022 season will take place in Bahrain on March 20.
