While Hamilton said it was important to let go of the past he did call for the release of the FIA’s full investigation into what happened in Abu Dhabi, when now-sacked director Michael Masi made a series of calls following a late safety car period which ultimately enabled Verstappen to pass Hamilton on the final lap. The World Motor Sport Council meets on Saturday to discuss the report’s findings.

“I think it’s important that, as a sport, we are transparent,” Hamilton said. “I had a good meeting with Mohammed [Ben Sulayem, FIA President] last night who agreed that’s the direction we should take as a sport.

“So we’re looking forward to seeing it come out and for people to know that the sport is transparent and we are learning from what’s happened in the past and we’ll make improvements moving forwards.”

Hamilton’s fellow drivers mostly agreed with him, although Verstappen, perhaps unsurprisingly, was less enthusiastic to rake over old ground. 

“I don’t think we need a full report,” the 24-year-old said. “Of course every year it’s good to discuss what happened the year before and what you can do better. That’s what teams do as well, you always analyse everything you do.

“So we’ll find out and, of course, if things can be written down in an easier way or a way to understand it better, the wording, then for sure. Let’s see.”

How does Hamilton regain his world title?

Mercedes’ teething problems

If Mercedes really are sandbagging, as Max Verstappen claims, they are doing a mighty convincing job of pretending to be slow. Hamilton spent so much time bouncing down Sakhir’s straights on Friday – courtesy of the “porpoising” effect these new cars are experiencing, which is caused by the airflow underneath stalling at high speed – he might as well look into a sponsorship deal with a trampoline manufacturer.

Hamilton did not sound at all happy after finishing ninth in practice, between the two Haas cars, insisting again that Mercedes were “not bluffing” and were “a long way off” the pace of their rivals.

The W13’s radical design, with its almost non-existent sidepods and its aero mirror mounts, triggered admiring murmurs when it broke cover last week, with many assuming the Brackley team had stolen a march on the rest. Perhaps it will prove the right philosophy in time. But right now George Russell insists Mercedes are just worried about beating AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo, never mind Ferrari and Red Bull.

Confident Verstappen

On top of a porpoising car, Hamilton will have to contend with an increasingly purposeful rival. Verstappen was already a handful last season, winning more races, claiming more poles and leading more laps. And the Dutchman looks and sounds more confident than ever after a winter as world champion.

While the manner of his victory in Abu Dhabi left a sour taste in many mouths, triggering global outrage, the Dutchman seems unperturbed by the furore. Asked this week whether he wanted to win the title “outright” this year, so as to shut up his detractors, he shot back: “I did win it outright.” The 24-year-old is as calm off the track as he is excitable and aggressive on it.

And now that he has had a taste of success – and Red Bull have their mojo back – it will not be easy to wrest the title back from him.

Ferrari potentially getting in on the act

Again, you have to put in the usual disclaimer that testing and practice are not always a reliable form guide, but all the evidence suggests it is not just Red Bull who Mercedes have to worry about this year. Ferrari have looked super smooth with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz second and third fastest respectively behind Verstappen on Friday. 

If the Scuderia come to the party, or even just provide a buffer between Mercedes and Red Bull in the early part of the year while Mercedes are playing catch-up, that could be a big problem.

The threat from within

Never mind the threats from Red Bull and Ferrari, the most intriguing issue in Hamilton’s in-tray is the threat posed by his own team-mate. Hamilton has always denied rumours he was against the hiring of Russell. But he was open about wanting Valtteri Bottas to stay, telling Toto Wolff last year to stick with the Finn on the basis of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. Bottas was pretty much the ideal team-mate for Hamilton; straightforward, uncomplicated. And bar the odd race, he never had to worry about losing too many points to him.

Hamilton does not always react well when his team-mate has serious ambitions of his own. Things got so heated with Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg that both had to quit his team. Rosberg quit the sport entirely. For now, Russell is saying all the right things, about “respecting” Hamilton and “learning from the master”. But he also says he is not at Mercedes to be the seven-time world champion’s “wingman”.

Those two positions pose a potential problem. If Russell starts beating Hamilton regularly, taking points off him, at best it will play into their rivals’ hands, at worst it will ignite another uncivil war.

…so, how does he do it?

Hamilton begins the season, in his own words, “not looking back”. He says he is “physically and spiritually” in a good place and at peace with what happened in Abu Dhabi. There is no reason to doubt him, although it was notable that he called on world governing body the FIA to release the full report into the events of last season’s title decider, which it could do after Saturday’s World Motor Sport Council meeting. Any further discrediting of Verstappen and Red Bull’s victory could help to undermine them.

Hamilton offered an intriguing response on Friday when asked whether he might have to change his style to cope with Verstappen. “I will be a more aggressive driver this year, you’ll see,” he replied.

One thing is for sure, if Hamilton can help Mercedes catch back up to Ferrari and Red Bull, helping to develop the W13, while seeing off the threat of a new, ambitious young team-mate, to win a record eighth crown, it will be the crowning achievement of his career.