Lewis Hamilton’s former team mate Jenson Button believes the Mercedes driver will return to Formula 1 this year, despite his ongoing silence following the controversial end to the 2021 world championship.
The seven-times champion hasn’t spoken publicly since he was interviewed by Button ahead of the podium ceremony at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff refused to attend the FIA’s post-season prize giving as the team was outraged by F1 race director Michael Masi’s decision to break with convention in his handling of the last-lap restart of the final round.
Earlier last year Hamilton signed a deal to continue driving for Mercedes for the next two seasons. But his continued silence has prompted speculation he may not return.
Button drove alongside Hamilton at McLaren from 2010 to 2012. He suspects his former team mate will return an attempt to break Michael Schumacher’s record of winning seven world championships.
“I…