Is time running out for Lewis Hamilton and his eighth title dream?

Lewis Hamilton has entered his final contracted year with Mercedes at 38, but dreams of winning his eighth title are looking even further away. Is it time to give up on Lewis Hamilton’s eight titles dream?

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Mercedes completely dominated in the turbo-hybrid era, producing eight constructor championships and seven driver titles between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton showed his dominance in the hybrid era, which saw him win six of his seven Drivers’ titles between 2014 and 2020, putting him level with F1 legend Michael Schumacher for the most in history.

Mercedes ended the turbo-hybrid era on a low after Lewis Hamilton just missed out on his record-breaking eighth title, in a controversial ending to the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi. Mercedes came back in 2022 fighting for the title, but ended up completely falling behind, with Lewis Hamilton not winning a single race for the first time in his F1 career.

Is there hope in 2023…

As things stand, 2023 isn’t looking good for the seven-time world champion. The season opener in Bahrain showed how the Mercedes W14 is lacking pace, Hamilton finished in P5, 50 seconds off reigning champion Max Verstappen, who finished the race in P1. Throughout the weekend, not only were the Silver Arrows significantly slower than Red Bull and Ferrari, but they were also slower than Aston Martin, a team that use their power engine.

In an interview, after Bahrain Hamilton openly criticised the team for not listening to his issues with the W13, when making their 2023 challenger. Hamilton told BBC radio 5 Live’s Chequered Flag podcast, “Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car. I've driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn't need.”

"And I think it's really about accountability, it's about owning up and saying 'yeah, you know what, we didn't listen to you, it's not where it needs to be, and we've got to work'.”

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After a troubling race in Bahrain, Mercedes have hinted that they are considering “radical changes” to the W14, just after one race. Mercedes’ trackside engineer director Andrew Shovlin confirmed that there will be some “visible” differences to the W14 over the next few races, which may include a revised sidepod design as hinted by Toto Wolff.

“People have tended to use the word ‘concept’ when they mean the sidepod design”, Toto added “we are looking at a revision that is going to come along in the next few races anyway,” he told Formula1.com.

So... is it over for Lewis Hamilton?

Though Hamilton is fast approaching his forty’s, the seven-time champion has made it clear in a lie detector test with Sky Sports that he has no intentions of stopping. When asked if he would win a record-breaking eighth title, the Englishman gave it a lot of through, looking at the desk before raising his eyes with pure determination and confidently saying, “Yes”.

Not only is Hamilton set on taking his eighth title, but Team Principal Toto Wolff also seems to be hopeful that he will help Lewis take the title.

As quoted by Motorsport.com, Wolff said, “Lewis sees the situation the same way we do. We’re going to help Lewis win his 8th world title. If I have to push him on the track to win his eighth championship, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

While this season as it stands shows no promise of Lewis Hamilton taking his eighth title, both Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff have shown no signs on stopping in their pursuit for that record breaking eighth title.