Lewis Hamilton, seven times world champion, claims that his trust on FIA was shattered and will built with time. He admitted that he “lost faith in the system” last season.
Hamilton spoke in public after a controversial decision that stripped him of world championship. Instead Max Verstappen won the championship after Michael Masi, race director, changed the formation of car behind safety car.
The British driver was clear how his feelings were hurt by it. However, he claims that he never considered retirement.
“Of course at the end of seasons you think and the question is whether you’re willing to commit the time and the effort that it takes to be a world champion,” he said.
“I think a lot of people underestimate what it takes to be a world champion. And there are so many moving parts. It’s not just turning up and driving the car.
“The question is, do you want to sacrifice the time? Do you believe that you can continue to punch at the weight that you’re punching? So that’s a normal kind of mental process for me.
“But of course, this one was compounded by a significant factor. And I think ultimately, with a sport that I’ve loved my whole life, there was a moment where I kind of obviously lost a little bit of faith within the system.
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“But I’m generally a very determined person. And I like to think to myself like whilst moments like this might define careers, I refuse to let this define mine. I’m focused on being the best I can be and coming back stronger.”
Hamilton is adamant to have blind faith in FIA. He wanted the authorities to do more despite replacing Masi.
“I put faith and trust alongside each other,” he said. “And so trust can obviously be lost in the blink of an eye or the flick of a finger.
“But to earn trust is something that is built over a long period of time. So, whilst I didn’t see that coming, this first announcement at the launch yesterday is perhaps a first step of that. But that doesn’t necessarily change everything just yet.
“We have to see actual action and I think it will take a bit of time. But I’m not really focused necessarily on that area at the moment. I’m just putting absolutely every ounce of my energy and time into making sure that I’m the best you’ve ever seen.”
Hamilton claims that his focus remains on FIA. He wanted it to remain consistent in its decisions, which many felt off during 2021.
