As Hamilton heads into a contract year at Mercedes, his age, declining performance, and concerns over car competitiveness raise questions about his ability to break Schumacher’s record.
Lewis Hamilton’s pursuit of an eighth Formula 1 title is in question as he enters the final year of his contract with Mercedes at the age of 38. Despite being one of F1’s greatest ever drivers, his dream of surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record has seemingly never been further away.
Hamilton’s 2022 season was plagued by disappointment and controversy, with the infamous Abu Dhabi title finale robbing him of the chance to claim his record-breaking eighth title. The emotional toll of that event coupled with concerns about the competitiveness of this year’s Mercedes car has raised doubts about whether Hamilton can continue to compete at the highest level.
Despite his undeniable talent and longevity in the sport, pundits are questioning whether Hamilton’s age is starting to impact his performance. His worst-ever season in terms of championship finish and race wins, along with being outscored by Mercedes rookie teammate George Russell, has some speculating that he may finally be declining.
The big question now is whether Hamilton will keep racing until he breaks the title record. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, retirement could be a tempting option. However, if he chooses to continue, he will need a competitive car to achieve his dream.
Experts predict that the earliest chance for Hamilton to claim his eighth title would be in 2024, as the current Mercedes car seems to be firmly third in the pecking order at pre-season testing. But with his motivation and determination to succeed still strong, it remains to be seen whether Hamilton will continue to race against time in pursuit of his record-breaking eighth title.
