Lewis Hamilton's genius faces fresh test
Even before his Formula One debut in 2007 there was a palpable air of something special about Lewis Hamilton. The talent was there, unpolished but impossible to ignore, as was his fierce desire to prove himself.
Just how far he has come, however, has exceeded every expectation, including those of that determined young man from Stevenage.
With his future in the sport still uncertain, this season may be the last chance to enjoy one of its greatest drivers. Better still, it might become the toe-to-toe fight the champion has always desired.
Hamilton is attempting to take his eighth title this year, beginning with the Bahrain Grand Prix on today. Already the most successful driver of all time with 95 wins and 98 poles, should he take the title he will have surpassed Michael Schumacher’s previous record of seven and would stand alone at the pinnacle of the sport.
Now 36, Hamilton won his first title for McLaren in 2008 and then after switching to Mercedes in 2013 claimed his second in 2014. He has won five since then and his then Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg is the only driver to have beaten him in that time, winning the title in 2016 before immediately retiring.
Rosberg now pays tribute to his old rival, stressing that Hamilton’s achievements have perhaps not been fully appreciated.
“Lewis has been at his best for many years now, he is statistically the best of all time, it’s an unbelievable level at which he is driving,” said Rosberg.
“Achieving it once is one thing but remaining at that level year in, year out, over and over again, that is so hard in any sport. To be there, to keep the motivation going, while the pressure only builds and everybody is just waiting for you to fail. That’s so impressive.”
Hamilton’s consistency since 2016 to secure four titles in a row, including defeating a resurgent Ferrari, who enjoyed the better car for long parts of several seasons, places him among the greats of the sport.
At his best these are performances that should be celebrated and savoured, especially as 2021 may be his swansong.
He has signed only a one-year contract with Mercedes and will not be drawn on whether he yet intends to race on in 2022 when new regulations are poised to reset F1, but he has nothing left to prove.
His legacy on and increasingly off track, is already forged.
Hamilton has always been much more than a one-dimensional character and the sport will desperately miss him when he does hang up his helmet.
The former driver Martin Brundle, who has followed Hamilton’s career closely, has described the one-year contract as “confusing”, adding: “Lewis doesn’t seem entirely happy, with some aspects of it.”
Hamilton has been adamant that winning that eighth title or not will not be a factor in any decision on his future, but that it will be whether he still derives pleasure from competing.
“I don’t feel like I’m at the end,” he said. “But over the next eight months I’ll find out whether I’m ready to stop or not. I don’t think I will, but you never know.”
One factor that may well play a key part in that process is how this season shapes up. As things stand Red Bull appear to have the edge over Mercedes for the first time since 2013.
They were quickest in testing and on top in practice in Bahrain on Friday.
This will be a long season if it makes the planned 23 races but if they and Max Verstappen in particular mount a sustained challenge it may prove an invigorating tonic for Hamilton.
The world champion has always insisted he wants a fight and this year there is hope he will have his wish.
Verstappen, at 23, is heir apparent and a contest between the new and the old guard would be something to treasure.
“Lewis has a lot of things in his life that are important to him but he loves racing. He would love to have a wheel‑to‑wheel season with the likes of Max Verstappen,” said Brundle.
“Two things can beat Lewis this season. One is a very on-form Red Bull with Max Verstappen – on form on a season-long basis,” he said.
“The other that can beat Lewis and Mercedes is Lewis and Mercedes. Will they trip over themselves together?”
Hamilton came into the sport smiling and can leave with a sense of satisfaction but whenever that is, he will surely want to go out on a high.