Abu Dhabi was the race that could have made Lewis Hamilton the most successful driver in the history of F1. On a day when Mercedes had the edge, Red Bull lucked out. With the Silver Arrows’ spearhead completely in control of the race, Max Verstappen hoped for a miracle. And that’s exactly what he got.

Nicholas Latifi’s late crash and a controversial call by the then race director, Michael Masi, arguably helped the Dutchman to clinch his maiden title. While there was delight and jubilation in the Red Bull camp, there was a sinking feeling in Mercedes’ garage.

After the race, it was speculated that Lewis Hamilton might retire. But, the 7-time world champion fought through adversity and returned to take the center stage yet again. Stating his desire to return to racing after the heart-wrenching defeat, he said, “I am generally a very determined person. And while moments like this might define careers, I refuse to let this define mine.”

2022 hasn’t been the best season for him. But, there are still a lot of fans who feel that he has more world titles in him. The 37-year-old, ahead of the Japanese GP, was asked about his retirement plan.

Before he could answer it, a fan from the audience shouted, “RACE TO YOUR TENTH CHAMPIONSHIP!” To which Lewis jokingly replied, “I might be old and gray by then,” to round off a wholesome moment.

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Lewis Hamilton winning a championship this year is completely out of the question. But he would want to at least win a race.

Can Lewis Hamilton keep his record intact?

Ever since his debut, there has not been one season that has ended without Lewis Hamilton being on the top step of the podium. It looks like the 2022 season could be that unfortunate season. However, Hamilton is not concerned about records.

At Monza, talking about his record, Lewis said, “I’m not focused on the record, but of course I’m trying to get that win this year. But the record is not that important for me because I don’t really care about records in general.”

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Hamilton might not be concerned about records, but he’ll be itching to compete with the likes of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. Suzuka might not be a circuit tailor-made for Mercedes, but it’ll be foolish to write Lewis Hamilton off.