Lewis Hamilton had one racing legend convinced it was time for the seven-time world champion to retire from Formula 1 part way through this year.
It was clear from the very start that the 2022 campaign was going to be a tough one for Mercedes. Not only were their cars uncompetitive compared to the front-runners, but they were suffering badly from the "porpoising" phenomenon, a problem the Silver Arrows took a lot of time to fix.
So used to challenging for the win on most weekends, it was clearly taking a toll on Hamilton – physically, for sure, as evidenced by his back pain after a particularly bumpy ride in Baku. During that period, vastly experienced racing driver Tom Coronel thought the Brit's career was only heading one way.
"At the start of the season I was like: 'It's time to go'," he told Motorsport.com. "I really thought so. I don't even know if it was so much the motivation." He went on to suggest that the team's struggles, combined with the outcome of the Abu Dhabi finale in 2021, had him convinced Hamilton's career was coming to an end.
"The blow you take as a sportsman after last year, of course you don't just get over it. It gnaws in your head and you have sleepless nights," Coronel added. "Everyone has that, no matter how such a great sportsman you are, so I think it was not so much the motivation with Hamilton."
But of course Mercedes began to close the gap and find some pace. By the end of the year, they had finally won a race – a one-two finish in Brazil, no less – and now Hamilton is pledging to sign a new deal with the team and extend his F1 career, most likely beyond his 40th birthday.
As the belief came back for the Brit, Coronel's view on his situation changed. Suddenly he was watching a man with "bite" – who showed the desire that is always required to be a serious competitor at this level.
The World Touring Car Championship veteran continued: "Lewis lacked the positivity in those first months, but that gradually came back – actually from Barcelona little by little. Then I saw him bite again, just as we are used to from him. At the end of the season he was really strong again.
"I mean, Russell did indeed take Mercedes' only win this year, but if you look at how he ended the year then Hamilton deserved that win too. I have to say at the end of the year Lewis has driven really well and also showed that the fighting spirit is back, especially towards next year."
