Hamilton set for first public engagement since social media storm
The 33-year-old will begin his F1 title defence in Melbourne on March 25
Lewis Hamilton is due to make his first public outing of the new year on Tuesday following criticism he received for comments made about his nephew wearing a dress.
The four-time Formula One world champion will appear at an event for IWC, the Swiss watchmaker that sponsors his Mercedes team, in Geneva.
The gala will mark Hamilton’s opening work commitment of 2018 and his first since his social media purge three weeks’ ago.
He has a combined following of 11million across both platforms.
Hamilton, who turned 33 earlier this month, has been an avid endorser of social media, making his deleting spree and ensuing absence all the more mysterious.
The Mercedes driver surpassed Sir Jackie Stewart to become the first Briton to win four Formula One world titles at the Mexican Grand Prix in October.
But his incredible year – which also saw him eclipse Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of pole positons – ended in off-track controversy following claims in the leaked Paradise Papers that he avoided paying tax on his private jet, before the backlash against his Instagram video.
He finished only sixth at last month’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
Hamilton will return to his Mercedes cockpit in the first of two pre-season tests at Barcelona next month. The Englishman will then begin the defence of his fourth crown in Melbourne on March 25.
