Lewis Hamilton may have confirmed his intentions to delay retirement and race again in 2022, but the seven-time Formula 1 world champion remains "disillusioned" with the sport ahead of his return.
That's according to Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff, who opened up about the star's unsettled relationship with F1's higher powers following last season's highly contentious Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamilton, 37, was on the verge of pulling off an incredible 2021 comeback to win a record-breaking eighth world title at Yas Marina, only to be denied at the death by Red Bull 's Max Verstappen.
An unprecedented sequence of events led to one of the most controversial season finales on record, and FIA-appointed race director Michael Masi has since been sacked as a result of his hand in the incident.
That's one step towards attaining justice as far as Mercedes will be concerned, but Wolff assured his driver is yet to truly reach a place of understanding following the December debacle.
“No, I was never worried [Hamilton would retire] – although you have to respect the driver is disillusioned," Wolff said during a recent appearance on BBC Radio 4.
"Lewis was the best guy on track, dominating, and then it is taken away by an individual against the rules, so to digest that is that very difficult."
Do you think Lewis Hamilton will win a record-breaking F1 world title in 2022? Let us know in the comments section.
Many fans agreed that while Masi didn't act in accordance with F1 law at 'The Decider in the Desert', Verstappen deserved to take the crown as the best driver over the course of 2021.
The Dutchman ended Mercedes' dominant streak of seven straight F1 drivers' titles following Masi's intervention, and Wolff has been hard at work to ensure such chaos isn't repeated.
Hamilton has won six of the eight titles on offer since 2014 (the other belonging to former team-mate Nico Rosberg), and Wolff added his talisman's main focus lies in delivering entertainment in fair fashion.
“He is in love with the sport and we are ready to hunt for victories and hopefully the world championship," the Austrian continued.
"He is in the right mindset. Lewis is all about justice and sporting fairness. He needed time to reflect, he comes back strong and is in good spirits."
The most dominant driver in modern F1 is a major threat at the worst of times but will be newly invigorated to break free of Michael Schumacher 's joint-record of seven world championships later this year.
The 2022 season is set to get underway with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20, and Hamilton has warned Verstappen as he seeks to reclaim top spot.
“If you think that what you saw of me at the end of last year was my best, wait till you see this year," Hamilton said at the launch of Mercedes' new W13 car on Friday.
“I am putting every ounce of my energy and time into making sure that I’m the best you have ever seen.”
