Lewis Hamilton’s race against time: is the dream of a record eighth Formula 1 title still alive at Mercedes?

When Lewis Hamilton equaled Michael Schumacher’s file of seven Formulation 1 world championships, his destiny as the game’s statistical membership chief appeared set.

Mercedes, in any case, had simply dominated the 2020 season and a Hamilton nonetheless on the high of his sport had gained six titles in seven years. Yet one more crown would make him probably the most adorned F1 driver of all time.

However then got here a much more aggressive than anticipated marketing campaign towards Max Verstappen and Pink Bull, and the crushing, sadly unfair desperation of a title closing in Abu Dhabi that noticed him steal the file.

Now Hamilton heads into the 2023 marketing campaign as far-off from their elusive title as ever, with Mercedes having gone from title contenders to a staff making an attempt to recuperate from their worst season in a decade.

At 38, Hamilton isn’t getting any youthful. And it’s important to ask questions.

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Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz is assured Lewis Hamilton is not going to win a file eighth world title this season with Mercedes. You possibly can take heed to the primary episode of the Sky Sports activities F1 podcast from 4pm on Tuesday.

Is the time now towards Hamilton in his dream bid for eight? Does Mercedes have the capability to offer the automobile the Englishman wants? A driver who beforehand dominated out driving at age 40, will he proceed till he will get there?

With the assistance of the specialists at Sky Sports activities F1, we attempt to present solutions.

So shut and but to date

We might be remiss to speak about Hamilton’s quest with out beginning with how shut he was to finishing it.

No driver, besides Felipe Massa by the hands of Hamilton, has ever been turned down so late in a season. And that 2008 finale, whereas dramatic, had nothing on 2021 by way of controversy and unfair conclusions.

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As Formulation 1 returns to Abu Dhabi, Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen recalled maybe probably the most dramatic finish to a season final 12 months when he overtook Lewis Hamilton on the ultimate lap to say a maiden world title.

the story now. Hamilton, after the F1 race director and his staff misapplied the principles, was thrust right into a one-lap showdown towards Verstappen that he was by no means going to win, on older tyres.

Verstappen would overtake Hamilton on the closing lap of the ultimate race, within the cruelest finish to what was an unimaginable title battle.

“To get to 1 spherical of the eighth championship after which doubtlessly…he might by no means win it,” mentioned Ted Kravitz.

“Michael Schumacher could not win an eighth, Lewis Hamilton could not win an eighth – is there one thing within the stars about an eighth world championship?”

Consider the agony Hamilton went by way of after this fiasco and within the months to return. Although Mercedes was fast final 12 months, it is essential to grasp how a lot it value them.

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David Croft believes Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris will ask Mercedes and McLaren about their groups’ efficiency in testing.

Coupled with Mercedes not being quick, does Hamilton acknowledge his dream was beginning to fade?

“I feel that is why Abu Dhabi hit it so onerous,” mentioned Martin Brundle. “You might see him battling that in early 2022.

“I feel time is towards him.”

Has Mercedes’ race up entrance run its course?

F1 is exclusive in that the athlete depends closely on their instruments to win the most important particular person prizes.

And simply as Hamilton skillfully made probably the most of Mercedes’ bundle from 2014 to 2020, he, or his team-mate George Russell, could not combat for wins and titles with the automobile they had been supplied with the season. final.

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Sergio Perez set the quickest lap in testing on the C4 tires of his Pink Bull.

There are additionally actual considerations about this 12 months’s automobile, with Mercedes – whereas apparently having ironed out the rebound points which have plagued 2022 – nonetheless trying firmly third, at greatest, within the pecking order in pre-testing. season.

“I feel there may be little or no probability that he’ll win that eighth title this 12 months,” mentioned Karun Chandhok.

“As a result of until Mercedes has an enormous quantity of sandbags on this automobile, it appears to date that they will not be capable of cease Max this 12 months.”

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Anthony Davidson analyzes Lewis Hamilton’s efficiency within the new Mercedes W14 throughout testing.

Damon Hill added: “They’ll should do one thing wonderful based mostly on testing.”

So Mercedes did not appear to be within the title reckoning from the beginning, and even staff boss Toto Wolff has incessantly used the phrase “ultimately” to have a aggressive automobile.

“I feel it’ll take one other 12 months for Mercedes, no less than,” mentioned Ted.

Is Hamilton even nonetheless at his greatest?

It has change into obvious through the years in F1 that drivers begin to expertise a decline in efficiency as they grow old. This was true for the good Michael Schumacher and, extra lately, Sebastian Vettel rapidly reworked from a profitable machine to a driver who typically made errors.

Hamilton, nonetheless, bucked this development as he handed his thirties, seemingly bettering by conserving the sharp reflexes and unimaginable contact of his early years whereas including the expertise and persistence that include age. It’s his longevity and his consistency that undoubtedly already make him the best in F1.

However was 2022 – Hamilton’s worst F1 season by way of championship (sixth) and race wins (zero), in addition to a 12 months that noticed him outclassed by rookie Mercedes team-mate Russell – the proof that it’s lastly declining?

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Martin Brundle thinks Mercedes had been nonetheless in third place after apply, however nonetheless thinks Lewis Hamilton is eager to combat younger drivers.

Not for Sky F1 specialists.

“He did not have entry to this tough tools for the championship final 12 months,” mentioned Ted. “He was by no means in it.”

“He at all times appears motivated and fired as much as get the job executed,” mentioned Karun. “I’ve little doubt that in the event that they had been in rivalry for world championships and race wins, Lewis is the fitting man for Mercedes.

“I feel in the event that they’re six, seven tenths off the tempo this 12 months, then we may see a little bit of a repeat of final 12 months the place he is nonetheless happening completely different rabbit holes for setup and course…and he would not do not fairly perceive the outcomes.

“We actually noticed in Barcelona final 12 months when the automobile improved, Lewis kicked into excessive gear.

Even his nice rival Verstappen admitted: “He was one of many biggest drivers of all time within the sport, so if he has the automobile to do it he can combat for the title once more.”

And now?

We’re subsequently left with the next conclusion: Hamilton remains to be probably the greatest in F1 and has the flexibility to win that eighth title, though the Mercedes automobile he must compete may not with the ability to do that till 2024 on the earliest.

With Hamilton’s contract expiring on the finish of the season, the query arises: will Hamilton hold racing till he breaks the title file?

To withdraw, as Hamilton was on the verge of doing had he gained the eighth in Abu Dhabi, and what he thought-about after dropping it, can be comprehensible.

“He has nothing else to show,” mentioned Ted.

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Lewis Hamilton says he feels match sufficient and deserves his place sufficient to proceed with Mercedes as he goals to win an eighth F1 drivers’ title.

Altering groups – and Hamilton has flirted with rivals, significantly Ferrari, up to now – would even be a temptation for many different drivers in his place.

“Mercedes’ headache is that if Lewis thinks that if I wish to win an eighth title I’ll have to alter,” mentioned Hill.

However whereas having typically mentioned up to now that he would not wish to race till, say, Fernando Alonso (41), the truth that Hamilton has entered talks on a multi-year take care of Mercedes (you do the maths) proves the drive for eight, and his dedication to Mercedes, is robust.

“I do not really feel like I would like them to show [anything] for me,” Hamilton mentioned on the launch of Mercedes’ automobile. “I feel we have confirmed time and again through the years that we have now deep power.

“It is an thrilling time for the staff. And I do not plan to be anyplace else.

He added to Sky Sports activities Information: “It has been my life for thus lengthy and I at the moment really feel match sufficient and worthy of my job – so I’ll hold going for a bit.”

How lengthy “a little bit” lasts, solely Hamilton is aware of.

“He desires the eighth title,” mentioned Hill. “That is the one level to remain, I feel, for Lewis.”