Could It Be Over? The Mercedes and Hamilton era, according to a former Ferrari driver, “is over.”

Is it possible for Lewis Hamilton to win an eighth World Championship to cap off his Formula 1 career? A race winner and former Formula One driver feels the dream is fading.

Eddie Irvine, a former Formula 1 driver, thinks Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’s hegemony is “now over” and does not see Hamilton taking home an eighth championship.

In addition to his 2008 Drivers’ Championship with McLaren, Hamilton’s six Drivers’ Championships with the Silver Arrows placed him on the same level as Michael Schumacher.

The team has only managed one win in the past two years after going winless in 2023, and the British driver has not won a race since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Given how brilliantly Max Verstappen is driving the Red Bull, Irvine thinks it will be challenging for Mercedes to return to its previous level.

Irvine told the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, “The days of Hamilton and Mercedes winning are over, but Lewis is still a very good driver, very focused on objectives and eager to obtain results.”

“Moreover, comparing Max to Verstappen is extremely difficult because he is younger, a little faster, and has a great deal of confidence in his abilities.”

“Hamilton’s future is dependent on Mercedes’ level of competition”.

In addition, Mercedes was unstoppable from 2014 to 2021, winning 120 races and setting a record for eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships.

Eddie Irvine

It has battled to reproduce this form since the 2022 regulation change while addressing the issues raised by its automobile design concept.

According to Irvine, Hamilton’s desire to stay in Formula One Racing when his current contract expires would primarily depend on one thing.

“Hamilton’s prospects will depend on how competitive Mercedes will be in 2024,” he said.

“His background has demonstrated that he is capable of taking advantage of any opportunity that arises throughout the race and during qualifying.

“But I don’t think he can win the title again and fulfill his dream of taking home his eighth championship.”