Hamilton "sure" to return to F1 in 2022

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is "sure" Lewis Hamilton will not walk away from the sport over the coming weeks.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff recently offered no guarantees Hamilton would return in 2022 following the events that unfolded in the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Wolff remarked that Mercedes and Hamilton had been caused "pain and distress" by the decisions made at the end of the event at the Yas Marina Circuit by FIA race director Michael Masi that led to the Briton missing out on a record eighth title.

Wolff simply expressed 'hope' Hamilton would fulfil the new two-year contract he signed earlier this year and try again to become the outright record holder in terms of the number of championships given he shares the honour with Michael Schumacher.

Asked directly for his thoughts on the possibility of Hamilton quitting, Domenicali told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Lewis Hamilton? I'm sure he will recharge his batteries and come back with even more desire than before to win the eighth world title "

Domenicali was speaking in Brisighella where he was awarded the Bandini Trophy along with Massimo Rivola, a former Ferrari driver and current CEO of Aprilia Racing.

While expressing confidence in Hamilton's return, the Italian also claimed 2022 would be one of "transition" for F1 given the introduction of the new aerodynamic regulations that will offer "increasingly interesting ideas".

"In 2022, there will be a change of regulations, even if it is difficult to predict right now if there will be more competition for the victory, maybe not immediately," said Domenicali.

"But surely the cap on the teams' budgets, which is beginning to reveal its effects, will allow those who are catching up to recover more quickly and this is important ".

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