- F1 Dutch analyst Rob Kamphues is sceptical that Lewis Hamilton could win an eighth championship
- Hamilton is a seven-time Formula One champion
- He lost his eighth title in 2021 to Red Bull
F1 Dutch analyst Rob Kamphues is sceptical that Lewis Hamilton could win an eighth championship even if he joins a Red Bull-powered Aston Martin squad in 2025.
Hamilton is a seven-time Formula One champion but he lost his eighth title in 2021 to Red Bull. Efforts to make on more World Championship title win are proving futile each time he gets into the race.
In 2021, Max Verstappen elbowed him out by winning the last lap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix albeit in controversial circumstances.
While pundits from world all over predicted it would happen—winning streaks don’t last forever, after all—Hamilton hasn’t won a single grand prix since
Kamphues now questions whether Hamilton’s winning era in Formula 1 is over” and whether Abu Dhabi 2021 was his tipping point to a victory drought extending to 26 races so far.
Lewis Hamilton. Photo by Planet f1
The Dutch F1 analyst ponders why the Mercedes driver hasn’t made a startling show like he did in 2021 and the years before that.
“Could something have snapped in the great champion? Lewis hasn’t won a race since that day, he hasn’t achieved pole, he’s never even started from the front row,” he writes in Formule E Magazine.
Kamphues further indicates that Hamilton finished in fifth position, behind fellow Mercedes driver George Russell.
Given the stats, the analyst feels that Mercedes’ winning era is far gone and nothing much can be done. Kamphues also has interesting theories to back his claim that the Silver Arrows are fading away from the winning scene.
“It also seems that the era of Mercedes is over. The idea that the empire is collapsing is also confirmed by the transfer of team boss-designate James Vowles to Williams and the departure of Lewis’ beloved physio Angela Cullen. So in a row it’s clear as a lump, right?” he implores.
Interestingly, Cullen recently left her role as Hamilton’s assistant and physiotherapist. The Mercedes driver described her as a great person in his life for unleashing his potential.
With dwindling fortunes at Mercedes, Kamphues doubts Hamilton could turn around his F1 legacy in 2025 should he switch to Aston Martin which will ride on Red Bull-powered engine.
Lewis Hamilton. Photo/ Marca
“Suppose Lewis takes a year off, Aston Martin buys so many staff from Red Bull that Max gets a worthless car in two years and Lewis takes over from Alonso after a year of lounging. It could of course happen, although it is all highly unlikely that he will win an eighth title in 2025,” he notes.
Lately, Hamilton talk of leaving Mercedes for Ferrari or Red Bull have taken over F1 airwaves. However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says his team is not prepared to accommodate Hamilton now that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff gave the 37-year-old British driver a greenlight to depart.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, according to Horner, are good enough for him on his present squad.
On the other hand, Hamilton opened up on the low moments that made him contemplate quitting. He posted on social media, that in moments like this, he soul-searches deep to get the motivation to push forward.
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