Eighth Can Lewis Hamilton overtake Michael Schumacher to win the Formula One title? Hamilton did not score a single win in the 2022 season. Things are not looking good in the new season either. The current level of Mercedes is not promising for Hamilton. The fans do not have the hope that the dream of an eighth title with Mercedes will blossom. Toto Wolff’s team is in no danger of escaping. If he were to join a stronger team, Hamilton would probably be able to win an eighth title and the world record. With his contract with Team Mercedes expiring in 2023, Hamilton could look for pastures new.
∙ A backwards Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton said during pre-season practice and test runs that Mercedes were not on the right track. Mercedes can’t hold back as Max Verstappen storms to a third title. It was hinted that the current cars could not beat Red Bull and Ferrari. However, in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, it was relegated to the fifth place. Red Bull isn’t the only one undermining Mercedes. Ferrari’s Leclaire-Saenz duo is in fine form. Hamilton expected that too.
But the defeat at the hands of old ‘enemy’ Fernando Alonso was unexpected and tragic. Aston Martin’s new star Alonso finished third in the first two races of the season. The picture of Hamilton battling Alonso for fifth place in Bahrain was pitiful. After the ‘Bahrain tragedy’, Hamilton softened his words. “Our car is running backwards”. Following this, team boss Toto Wolff responded – “We will start trying to improve the car as soon as possible”.
Hamilton’s fifth place in Bahrain and Jeddah suggests that the miserable 2022 season will continue. It was a huge setback for Lewis, who was trying to win his eighth world title, that he could not win a single victory last season. The Mercedes team, which won eight championships in a row, fell to the third position. Not only is it not strong enough to compete with Red Bull, it is in a position to fear Ferrari and Aston Martin.
With this, there are rumors that Hamilton will leave Mercedes. Toto Wolff does not deny this either. Lewis needs a better car to win an eighth world title. If it doesn’t happen within two years, age will be the ban. This is the reason for Hamilton’s team change. If the contract with Mercedes expires in 2023, the team is likely to change if the cars do not improve. Experts are also suggesting that Hamilton would prefer to switch to a better car. But to where is the pertinent question.
In any case, Hamilton will not be interested in going with Verstappen to the current best team, Red Bull. Not only that, Max and Sergio Perez cannot be expected to leave Red Bull anytime soon. The next possibility is Ferrari. Hamilton once asked who wouldn’t want to fly Ferrari’s red car now becomes relevant. The reason for that hope is that Carlos Sainz’s contract expires this year. Another possibility is Aston Martin. It is doubtful whether the British star will be old enough to lock horns with Alonso again. Moreover, the team is not ready to leave Alonso, who joined the team only this season.
Of course, team owner Lawrence Stroll is not ready to bring Lewis to Aston Martin without his son Lance Stroll. Another door is Audi’s entry into the scene. Even if the announcement has been made, it is not possible to be sure as it has not been decided whether to enter the circuit. Moreover, Audi has already announced that it is interested in German players. It’s a relief for Mick Schumacher, Mercedes’ reserve driver. Mick is disappointed to be kicked out by Haas.
∙ Still too young to fight
Lewis Carl Hamilton, born on January 7, 1985 in Stevenage, England, debuted in Formula One in 2007. Hamilton, who started karting at the age of eight, has had his eye on the motoring world ever since he won his first karting title, the British Kart Championship, at the age of ten. In 2007, F went on a journey of victory through McLaren. Despite missing the title by a single point in his debut season, he had a brilliant season. Ferrari’s Finn Kimi Raikkonen won the title that season. The following season he won his first title, defeating the same Ferrari by the same margin. Noted to be the youngest winner in F1 history. Honored to be the first black player to win the F1 title.
Hamilton was the youngest F1 winner until Sebastian Vettel won the title in 2010. In 2009, Mercedes conquered the scene as a brown team. British star Jansen Button became the winner. Although he won three times in 2010 and 2011 and four times in 2012, Red Bull’s German Sebastian Vettel held on to the title. The four years from 2010 to 2013 were the reign of Red Bull – Vettel. After deciding to leave McLaren in 2012, Lewis ended up at the lucky Mercedes. The first season of 201 did not shine enough. Just one win.
2014 was a comeback year for Hamilton. The title with 11 wins on the season. In 2015, the title was retained with a month left in the season. In 2016, he had to surrender the title in front of Nico Rosberg of Mercedes. However, he regained the championship the following season with 9 wins. Then continued success till 2020. In 2020, he tied the record for most titles with Michael Schumacher. Schumacher’s achievement (91), which is the most race wins, also became legendary in that triumph.
∙ Eighth title won
The 2021 F1 races started with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s breakthrough. After the first half, the Dutch player had a clear lead. However, Hamilton, who entered the second stage of the race after the break, had changed a lot. Max and Verstappen had friction during the intense race. Both entered the final match of the season with equal points. The winner in Abu Dhabi is crowned. There are no other possibilities. Whoever wins is history. Hamilton’s eighth crown. Verstappen’s maiden crown.
Long before the start of the race, Hamilton’s eighth title was clear in the minds of the fans. Lewis Hamilton was racing with an unassailable lead. Verstappen was never able to challenge. However, it must be assumed that a different scenario was formed as if to deny Hamilton the record title win. On the 53rd lap of the 58-lap race, Nicholas Latifi’s car crashes. (No, many still believe it was a deliberate accident.) The safety car descends on the circuit. Red Bull is ready for the last gamble. Max Verstappen to the pit line. Returning to the circuit on soft tires in seventh place. Hamilton, on the other hand, remains on the worn tire without fear of danger.
The events that followed became the biggest controversy in the history of F1. Race director Michael Massey instructed the five cars in front of Max Verstappen to unlap (to let Verstappen pass) as he returned to the circuit. Verstappen crossed the checkered flag on the energy of the fresh tire as the safety car withdrew on the final lap. Before Latifi’s accident, there was an 11-second gap between Hamilton and Verstappen. While Verstappen and Team Red Bull were doing a dance of joy on winning the title, Hamilton cried ‘cheat’ in the car seat. Mercedes filed a complaint about the incident, but later withdrew it on the grounds that it would not tarnish the reputation of Formula One. Max Verstappen won the title, but F-One was marred by conspiracy and foul play.
English Summary: What will be Lewis Hamilton’s Future with Mercedes? Explained