Lewis Hamilton's mystery announcement now revealed after teasing F1 fans

Lewis Hamilton has featured in an advert for a non-alcoholic beverage 24 hours after teasing an announcement that many fans speculated could be about his Formula One future. The struggling Ferrari star urged fans to return to his Instagram page on August 8 for a big announcement, with the caption reading: "We've struck the match. Now follow the smoke."

F1 followers wondered whether Hamilton might have been about to make a statement on his F1 future. The teaser came days before the 40-year-old described himself as "useless" and urged the Italian outfit to replace him. However, the announcement had nothing to do with F1 at all. Instead, Hamilton is simply promoting a new non-alcoholic drink.

In partnership with Almave, the British driver features in an advert for a 'smoky' drink. In the video, he is seen perched on a seat with the drink in front of him. He swirls it around before consuming it in one gulp.

The Instagram caption reads: "There's a story in the smoke. Introducing Almave Humo, a smoky non-alcoholic spirit made with Espadin agave harvested from the foothills of volcanoes in Puebla, Mexico.

By adapting ancestral distillation techniques from the cradle of mezcal, Humo delivers the depth and intrigue of traditional smoky spirit, without the alcohol. For festive dinners and everyday celebrations, for moments of discovery and deep connection - Humo delivers sophisticated cocktails and authenticity - beyond proof."

Hamilton has been known to enter into partnerships with brands that align with his values. He has previously revealed that he no longer drinks alcohol after suffering from the mental effects of hangovers.

Meanwhile, fans are still waiting to see whether Hamilton will drive for Ferrari next season. A dreadful first season means he is far away from winning an elusive record eight world title. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton finished 12th. Charles Leclerc has outperformed his Ferrari team-mate for most of the season.

After the race, Hamilton bluntly insisted: "I'm useless, absolutely useless. The team, they have no problem - you've seen the car is on pole. So, they probably need to change driver."

When it was put to the seven-time world champion that it was clearly not the case that he is 'useless', he responded: "It clearly is. I drove terribly. It is what it is."