Former Formula 1 race winner Eddie Irvine asserts the Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes “era is now over” and doubts the Briton will be able to secure an eighth championship.
Mercedes dominated F1 upon the switch to V6 turbo-hybrid engines in 2014, logging an unrivalled eight consecutive Constructors’ titles and 120 wins between 2014 and 2021.
During that run, Hamilton added six Drivers’ Championships to the one he achieved with McLaren to draw level with the legendary Michael Schumacher at the top of the sport.
The Mercedes driver, who also surpassed the previous records for victories and pole positions, was denied clinching an eighth crown in 2021 when ex-FIA race director Michael Masi contravened the restart regulations during a late Safety Car period.
And amid Mercedes’ troubles since F1’s return to ground effect machinery in 2022, Hamilton has ended the past two seasons without adding to his tally of 103 race wins.
Although Hamilton, who has turned 39 ahead of this campaign, penned a new two-year extension with Mercedes to remain in the sport until the end of 2025, Irvine is unsure whether the German marque is still capable of delivering him a title-contending machine.
“The era of the triumphs of Hamilton and Mercedes is now over, but Lewis is still a very good driver, very focused on objectives and eager to obtain results,” he told Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“He is still doing a great job behind the wheel of an F1 car.
“Also the comparison with Verstappen is very tough, because Max is younger, has a bit more speed and [has] enormous belief in his abilities.
“Hamilton’s prospects will depend on how competitive Mercedes will be in 2024.
“With his experience, he has shown that he knows how to seize every opportunity that presents itself both in qualifying and in the race.
“However, I doubt he will be able to win the championship again, realizing his dream of winning his eighth title.”
Mercedes’ demise has seen Red Bull take up the mantle of the dominant force in this rules cycle, with the Austrian outfit triumphing in 21 out of the 22 races to be held in 2023.
Meanwhile, Verstappen, who took the championship at Hamilton’s expense in 2021, registered 19 victories last season en route to claiming his third successive title.
Along with Ferrari, Mercedes will introduce a revised car concept with its 2024 challenger, the W15, as the Brackley-based squad bids to challenge the reigning World Champions.
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