Lewis Hamilton mentioned he “misplaced slightly bit of religion” within the truthful policing of Components One after lacking out on final 12 months’s title in controversial circumstances on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamilton was crushed to the 2021 title by Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi after race director Michael Masi bent the FIA’s personal guidelines to make sure a security automotive restart on the ultimate lap that handed a major benefit to Verstappen.
The Mercedes driver didn’t converse to media after the race after which opted to not publish on social media for 2 months whereas he “unplugged and switched off” over the winter.
At Mercedes’ 2022 automotive launch on Friday, Hamilton made his first look in entrance of media because the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and whereas he mentioned he had not thought-about retiring from F1 on the finish of final 12 months, he had revaluated his relationship with the game.
“In fact, I feel on the finish of a season you suppose [about the future] and the query is whether or not you are prepared to commit the time, the hassle it takes to be a world champion,” he mentioned.
“I feel lots of people underestimate what it takes to be a world champion and there are such a lot of shifting components. It isn’t simply turning up and driving the automotive.
“So the query is, do you need to sacrifice the time, do you imagine you may proceed to punch on the weight you are punching, and in order that’s a standard psychological course of for me. In fact this one was compounded by a major issue, and I feel finally a sport I’ve cherished my complete life, there was a second the place I clearly misplaced slightly bit of religion inside the system.
“However I’m usually a really decided particular person and I might prefer to suppose to myself… whereas moments like this would possibly outline others’ profession I refuse to let this outline mine. So I targeted on being the perfect I will be and coming again stronger.”
On Thursday, the FIA introduced structural modifications to the “refereeing” of the game in response to the occasions in Abu Dhabi. Masi has been faraway from his position as race director and additional assist shall be given to his replacements with a view to take stress off race management.
Requested if his religion can be restored by the modifications, Hamilton mentioned: “I might in all probability put religion and belief alongside one another. Belief clearly will be misplaced within the blink of a watch or the flick of a finger, however to earn belief is one thing that is constructed over a protracted, lengthy time frame.
“This primary announcement yesterday is probably step one of that, nevertheless it would not essentially change the whole lot simply but. Now we have to see precise motion.
“I feel it’s going to take a little bit of time. I am probably not targeted essentially on that space in the intervening time. I am simply placing completely each ounce of my vitality and time into ensuring that I am the perfect you’ve got ever seen.”
He added: “It is good to see the FIA are making steps, accountability is essential, we’ve to make use of this second to ensure this by no means occurs to anybody else within the sport ever once more.
“We have to, even the whole lot mentioned by the FIA, I welcome that, however we’ve to ensure we preserve a detailed eye and are seeing these modifications and guidelines are utilized pretty and precisely, constantly.”
Hamilton mentioned he would come again stronger this 12 months and warned his rivals that he can be on higher type this season than he was on the finish of 2021 when he received three of the final 4 races.
“I really feel nice, I really feel match,” he added.
“Naturally when you could have an additional 12 months of expertise that all the time helps. I all the time really feel like by these kinds of experiences you may flip that emotion into energy and energy, it is what I am doing, placing into my coaching, into my work with the women and men right here. If you happen to thought what you noticed on the finish of final 12 months was my greatest, wait till you see this 12 months.”