Sadly, Lewis Hamilton did not have the luck at the end of the 2021 season to bag his eighth title. Now, it seems even more far-fetched as time moves on. On top of that, the Mercedes star will turn 39 before the next season begins. At 39, can the seven-time champion beat the current reigning champion Max Verstappen? Right now, it looks very difficult, as Red Bull’s car turned out to be a beast last season.
The biggest trouble for the Brackley team has been their car and the zero-side pod concept that ruined everything. After the first couple of races in 2023, Mercedes realized the zero-side pod concept was no good. But it was too late to change the whole setup of the car in the middle of the season. Hence, the former champions would like to build a better car with a whole new concept.
Can Lewis Hamilton Beat Max Verstappen If Mercedes Provides The Right Car?
Former F1 driver Jenson Button told AFP that Lewis Hamilton is still good enough to win races and championships. He added that Hamilton would not race at 39 if he didn’t believe he was not good enough. But Button feels Red Bull will still be at the front next season. Moreover, Red Bull had a strong car in 2023 and had enough time to work on the 2024 car as well. However, Button feels people may overlook the fact that there have been quite a few exciting battles this year. But in the end, Max Verstappen would have the last laugh.
Anyhow, Button feels Max has done a great job in the last two seasons and possibly will be a favorite again next season. But Jenson Button added that other teams might get closer in 2024. Moreover, it will be challenging to beat Verstappen in a Red Bull car if his head is in the right place. But Button thinks if Lewis Hamilton suits him, then he will give a tough fight to Verstappen. And that’s a race everybody would love to watch. Moreover, Button hopes Hamilton gets to that before he retires, as he certainly possesses the ability and skills.
Red Bull Unstoppable Since Last Year
The Austrian team won 17 races in 2022. It was a pretty good performance. But they did a tad better, winning 21 races this year. Moreover, Max Verstappen alone won 19 in 2023. The Dutch driver has been on another level this year. Clearly, the RB19 car and Max Verstappen together were a deadly combination for the Austrian team. Can any team beat Red Bull before the 2026 regulation changes? It looks highly unlikely.
However, Mercedes was pretty dominant back in the turbo-hybrid era as well. The biggest weapon of the Silver Arrows was their star driver, Lewis Hamilton. However, things fell apart when he lost narrowly in the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Since 2022, Lewis has remained winless. On the other hand, Mercedes managed to win a single race in the last two years. But they did not win any race in 2023.
