Ex-Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone is hopeful that Lewis Hamilton can take the fight to Max Verstappen in 2024 and claim some more race wins, putting him in a position to potentially “make history”.
The seven-time World Champion has gone two full seasons now without a race win, with his most recent victory still being the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Not winning since then isn’t really Hamilton’s fault, as he hasn’t been given a car good enough by Mercedes to compete with Verstappen or Red Bull.
In fact, nobody has been able to take the fight to the Dutchman over the last two seasons, which is why he’s cruised to three consecutive titles with ease.
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Verstappen has won a staggering 34 races just since 2022, with him now over halfway to catching Hamilton’s record-breaking 103 race wins.
There is no doubting that the 39-year-old will add to his tally if Mercedes give him a strong car, something many are hopeful will happen this year.
In a bid to get back to the front, the Silver Arrows have opted to design an entirely new concept, based on feedback from Hamilton and George Russell.
The hope is that by starting from scratch using what they’ve learnt from two disappointing years, they can fight Red Bull once again and return to the top.
Should the Silver Arrows return to the top, then Hamilton would have every chance of finally claiming an elusive eighth Drivers’ Championship, something Ecclestone would like to see him achieve.
“I hope he makes it,” Ecclestone told the German Press Agency, as per Sky Sports. “He would then make history.”
Hamilton clearly believes in Mercedes making things right, as otherwise he wouldn’t have agreed to a two-year extension.
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The Brackley-based team have until at least the end of 2025 to give Hamilton a car which can win races and, most importantly, defeat Verstappen.
Time isn’t Hamilton’s friend currently but if Mercedes play their cards right, then the most successful driver in the history of F1 could yet claim one more title.
An eighth crown would potentially put him out of reach of Verstappen, who has hinted that he could retire at the end of 2028.