Has Lewis Hamilton's era of dominance come to an end?
Once a dominant force in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton is nearing the twilight of his career without adding to his tally of seven world championships since 2020.
Following consecutive disappointing seasons at Mercedes, former Ferrari ace Eddie Irvine believes the Briton's era of supremacy could be over.
Mercedes Struggles and Age Against Hamilton
The 2022 and 2023 campaigns proved intensely frustrating for Hamilton as Mercedes failed to master F1's radical rules overhaul.
Despite flashes of strong qualifying pace, the W13 and W14 cars lacked reliable race speed.
Hamilton went winless across both seasons - his longest victory drought since entering F1 in 2007.
Entering his 17th season aged 38, time is running out for Hamilton to capture an unprecedented eighth crown.
"With his experience, he has shown that he knows how to take every opportunity in both qualifying and the race. However, I doubt that he will be able to take the championship again," said Irvine.
All eyes on Mercedes in 2024
Hamilton's fate seems tied to whether Mercedes can build a title-contending car under the sport's complex regulations.
"Hamilton's prospects will depend on how competitive Mercedes will be in 2024," said Irvine. "If Toto Wolff's team returns to a fast car, Lewis could win races."
With a new season on the horizon, the Silver Arrows will be working tirelessly over the winter to give their superstar driver a machine to challenge Red Bull's dominance.
Can the ageing Hamilton summon his supreme best to battle Max Verstappen's brilliance once more?
Or has his era of F1 glory faded for good? The 2024 championship battle promises to reveal all.
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