Hamilton retirement "rumours" dismissed by FIA

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has dismissed speculation that seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton could retire from the sport ahead of the 2022 season.

Hamilton has removed himself from the public eye after finishing second in the 2021 drivers' championship standings to Max Verstappen in dramatic and controversial style.

Having said nothing since a brief post-race interview in Abu Dhabi, rumours of a potential retirement emerged when Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff spoke to the media after the team elected not to appeal the result of its protests from the season-ending race.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali declared in December he was "sure" Hamilton would return, with recently elected FIA president Ben Sulayem conveying a similar expectation.

Speaking to Spanish media, when asked of the rumours, Ben Sulayem said: "No, I don't think so, they are just rumours.

"Has he declared that he is not going to run? Exactly, no.

"When you are a driver, you speak for yourself and not what others say about you.

"I trust that this is not the case. Lewis is an important part of the sport and of F1, his achievements, Verstappen is there...I am sure we will find a very exciting F1 next season."

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