23 January 2024 , 20:21
542
0
Mercedes have no doubt Lewis Hamilton still has what it takes to challenge for Formula 1 glory, as the 39-year-old still has a "compulsive need to win".
His last race victory came at the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. For the last two seasons, Mercedes have not been able to provide him with a car capable of going up against Max Verstappen in his mighty Red Bull machines.
Questions have been raised over what Hamilton will be capable of when his team does manage to build a more competitive car. David Coulthard is one of those not convinced Hamilton still has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with Verstappen.
The Scot said: "This is not Lewis at his prime. This is Lewis in a very frustrating two-year state of underperforming. When he gets a winning car again, it'll be really interesting to see if he can rediscover the old Lewis magic."
Mercedes are convinced that, at the very least, a lack of hunger for more success is not going to hold their star driver back. "I think you'd struggle to find a driver anywhere in the grid that wasn't motivated," said technical director James Allison.
Sebastian Vettel warns of looming F1 ban and is "very worried about the future"
"I think that sort of comes with the territory with them. And, generally speaking, the more successful the drivers have been, the more sort of inescapable that compulsive need to win is.
"In Lewis's case, it's just a core part of who he is, so there's no doubt about his motivation to get back to winning ways. But whether or not he can do that will be much more in the hands of the equipment we've given him than in his own hands. He's always had that ability there."
Hamilton has a deal until the end of 2025 and, should that hunger persist, this may not even be his last F1 deal. In any case, though, he will need Mercedes to return to the title fight sooner rather than later if he is to challenge for an eighth crown - and Christian Horner is in no doubt that his team's rivals will get back to winning ways.
"I'm sure over the next two years we're going to see much closer racing," said the long-serving Red Bull chief. "We will not repeat the year - [2023] will go down as a unicorn year for us, that's for sure.
"Mercedes has great strength in depth. Obviously, they've had a difficult period, but they have great drivers and they will get it together, one would assume, at some point."