Lewis Hamilton has posted on social media for the first time since the end of last season. The Brit has been keeping an extremely low profile ever since his heartbreaking defeat to Max Verstappen in a controversial finale to the F1 season in Abu Dhabi in November.
There has been plenty of speculation over whether or not he will return to racing, with some rumours suggesting the 37-year-old could retire from the sport.
But his post on Instagram and Twitter on Saturday will offer hope to fans that he will be back after all.
Hamilton shared a picture of himself at the Grand Canyon in the United States of America.
And along with it he added the caption: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back!”
While this is not official confirmation that Hamilton will take part in next season’s championship, it certainly seems to hint that he will be back competing with Mercedes.
Prior to Saturday, Hamilton most recent activity on Twitter was on December 11 – the day before the final race of the season.
And his silence caused some, such as former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone, to conclude that retirement was nearing.
When asked whether he had spoken to Hamilton recently, the 91-year-old told Blick : “No, but a few days ago with his father.
“I immediately felt that he wouldn’t answer a question about his son’s future. So we only talked about business!
“I don’t think he’s coming back. His disappointment is too big. And you can somehow understand it.
“Now it would be time to tackle his dream of becoming a fashion entrepreneur with seven world titles like Michael Schumacher.”
Others, however, have been more confident of the star’s return.
His old teammate Nico Rosberg said in December: “With this change of procedure or whatever you want to call it, suddenly he lost the world championship. It was tough, it was extremely tough. But of course I do count on him being back on the grid next year and fighting to get back that world championship that kind of got taken away from him in a way.
“Lewis used to be — or is — the best wheel-to-wheel racer, and here comes Verstappen who is really taking it to him in wheel-to-wheel racing and sometimes even being better. It’s incredible to see their skill and to watch them go at it. They’re like on their own planet, they are well beyond everybody else, so I do hope we see it again next year.”
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