Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton may be enduring the most difficult patch of his career to date, but the Mercedes star insists he'll be "the one to decide when it’s finished."
After the anguish of losing out on last season's title to Red Bull rival Max Verstappen, the 2022 season has started horrendously for the record-hunter. Hamilton, 37, sits seventh after four races and has already conceded he and Mercedes are unlikely to challenge for the crown.
That doesn't mean retirement looms any closer for the veteran, however, as he prepares to enter the final 18 months of his current contract. That's after Hamilton posted a message of defiance on social media following a surge in speculation suggesting he's no longer fit for the job.
"Working on my masterpiece," Hamilton captioned his latest Instagram post, framed by tall piles of tyres on either side. "I’ll be the one to decide when it’s finished."
In artistic terms, the Silver Arrows' season has been anything but picturesque thus far. Hamilton and team-mate George Russell, 24, have managed just one podium finish apiece (both third), while Ferrari and Red Bull appear to be working with far superior designs.
Mercedes' engineering team continue to combat the 'porpoising' issues that other teams appeared to resolve earlier in the year. Boss Toto Wolff even referred to the W13 design as "undriveable" as part of his apology when Hamilton was lapped and finished 13th at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday.
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Hamilton has been considered deserving of some blame - with Nico Rosberg and Ralf Schumacher weighing in - for the downturn in results, however, considering team-mate Russell appears to be faring better with the same car. The latter is yet to finish outside the top five after four races, while his more senior partner has placed 10th or lower on two occasions.
The drop-off in results even led former world champion Jacques Villeneuve to question whether Hamilton could retire mid-season. However, the Briton appears to have put a sudden stop to any such speculation.
The Silver Arrows star will have a welcome respite before the campaign resumes with the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on May 8. Hamilton is even set to meet with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady as part of the Florida trip as he keeps his avenues open in how to turn this season around.
