Lewis Hamilton, one of the greatest drivers in Formula One history, is at a crucial juncture of his decades-long, glorious career. By signing a two-year extension contract with Mercedes last year, Hamilton has guaranteed his presence in the sport till he turns 40. But does Mercedes have it in them to provide a championship-winning car to Lewis Hamilton in the next two seasons?
That’s a debatable topic for now. However, the former Ferrari and Williams team manager has raised significant doubt about the Briton’s ability to achieve his record-breaking eight title whilst fighting Max Verstappen side by side. Will Verstappen deny Hamilton his ultimate title again?
Lewis Hamilton’s Championship Dream Threatened By Max Verstappen’s Dominance
Formula One has witnessed multiple eras of dominance in the past. However, now, it’s the era of Max Verstappen. The youngest world champion is on a quest to strengthen his hold over the grid, and Red Bull Racing is well-versed in what the Dutchman will need to extend his dominance. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s unwavering dominance has had negative implications on Lewis Hamilton’s championship dreams. The Mercedes ace currently holds the joint record of winning the most number of titles in F1 alongside legend Michael Schumacher. However, the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP fallout denied him his record-breaking eight title. Regardless, Mercedes is confident that in the next two seasons, Lewis Hamilton will achieve the pinnacle of the sport.
However, F1 pundit Peter Windsor believes otherwise. In his latest YouTube video, Windsor reckoned Max Verstappen can surely win seven championship titles in the future. Not only that, Windsor feels that if the youngster manages to prolong his stay in the sport, he can even shatter the world record. However, Peter believes that Lewis Hamilton will have trouble achieving his ultimate goal of winning eight titles in the presence of Verstappen. The pundit explained that Verstappen and Red Bull are likely to dominate the sport in the near future. Moreover, with Lewis nearing the end of his career, it would be difficult for him to chase down the gap in the next two seasons. “I’m not sure that he will get that opportunity as long as Max is there at Red Bull, to be honest,” said Windsor.
Mercedes Resolve Top Issue Highlighted By Lewis Hamilton
In the meantime, Mercedes is working on providing the best-fit car for Lewis Hamilton to fight for his ultimate goal before retirement. As per the latest rumors, Mercedes 2024 season challenger W15’s seating position has been moved backward to resolve the issue majorly highlighted by the British driver last season. The revised cockpit position will aid Hamilton’s decision-making and reflexes in high-speed corners.
Besides the cockpit spot, the aerodynamics, chassis, and gearbox will undergo significant changes. The biggest change will come in concept. The zeropod concept has been axed, and the W15 will have no residue of the same on its aerodynamics. Overall, Mercedes are developing a conceptually brand new car to regain competitiveness on the grid.