Lewis Hamilton Posts Cryptic Message About F1 Retirement Amid Mercedes Struggles

​Lewis Hamilton has shared a cryptic post on social media in response to mounting speculation that he will QUIT Formula 1.  

Hamilton, 37, has had a difficult start to the new season as Mercedes continue to struggle to get grips with their car, struggling to match early leaders Ferrari and Red Bull. 

He was off the pace in Sunday's race at the Imola Grand Pix, finishing in 13th place - with rival Max Verstappen lapping him.

However, the Brit has dismissed claims that he'll call time on his legendary career, insisting he will be the one to decide when his 'masterpiece' is finished. ​

The Mercedes driver appeared to pour cold water on the idea of retirement as he took to Instagram to post the following message. 

"Working on my masterpiece, I'll be the one to decide when it's finished​," he wrote, with an image of himself in the Mercedes garage.

As it stands, Hamilton sits seventh in the Drivers' Championship, with just 28 points on the board. 

He's a massive 58 points adrift of leader Charles Leclerc​, who has starred for Ferrari this season - accumulating 86 points. 

Speaking after yet another disappointing race, Hamilton conceded he's out of the F1 Championship. 

"I'm out of it, for sure," he said. There's no question about that, but I'll still keep working as hard as I can to try and somehow pull it back together somehow.

"There is nowhere else I want to be. Just because we have hit a rough patch, it is not in my DNA to back out.

"We can fix this. It is going to be a painful year that we are going to have to ride out together."