David Coulthard doubted that Lewis Hamilton would retire from Formula 1 after Toto Wolff insinuated that the seven-time World Champion might be contemplating retirement due to the way his season ended in Abu Dhabi last Sunday.
With Mercedes coming out on Thursday to announce that they will not appeal the 2021 F1 season outcome, or the Abu Dhabi GP results, team boss Toto Wolff broke his media silence and talked about the ramifications of the season finale, hinting that Lewis Hamilton maybe too disillusioned with F1 to continue racing.
"I would very much hope Lewis continues racing because he is the greatest driver of all time," Wolff told the media.
"As a racer his heart will say I need to continue because he’s at the peak of his game," he added. "But we have to overcome the pain that was caused upon him on Sunday.
"He is a man with clear values," the Austrian insisted.
But will Hamilton retire?
Former F1 driver David Coulthard doubts the Mercedes ace will retire after 2021 when speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Hamilton's commitment is unquestionable," he said . "He showed why he was a seven-time World Champion.
"He's a phenomenon and he's an incredible sportsperson," the Scot insisted.
"He's already committed to another two years," the 50-year-old went on. "He's a team person, he's committed to that team and he will be there next year trying to win an eighth world title.
"I think he's got inner peace," Coulthard mused. "He will clearly be disappointed, to say the least, but you've got to try and imagine putting yourself in his shoes – he's a great racing driver, he's won multiple championships and he's overcome adversity in his racing career."
Losing the 2021 Drivers' Title won't dilute Hamilton's great moments
Hamilton has dominated the last seven years of F1, except for 2016, the year his teammate Nico Rosberg beat him to the F1 Drivers' Title.
During those years, the Briton accumulated six Drivers' Crowns on top of his maiden Title he won for McLaren in 2008, only his second year as an F1 driver. He has 103 wins and 103 pole positions up to now.
Coulthard believes that all these monumental achievements will not be erased from Hamilton's awareness because of this year's Title defeat.
"This is just another of those moments that won't dilute the many great moments in his career," he claimed.
"He's a fantastic example to sportsmen and women out there on how to handle defeat.
"He recognised the challenge of Verstappen and these are the moments he lives for.
"Yes, he would have wanted to win but he showed his brilliance again," Coulthard concluded.
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