17 January 2024 , 18:57
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Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will struggle to dethrone their Red Bull rivals for at least two more years, Natalie Pinkham has warned.
The seven-time world champion would dearly like to secure an eighth title before retiring from racing in Formula 1. But he hasn't even been able to win a single race across the last two seasons.
His Mercedes team's time at the top of the sport has been ended and their Red Bull rivals now rule the roost. Max Verstappen is the dominant force on the grid and has won three drivers' titles in a row.
The Dutchman is favourite to make it four this year with Red Bull likely to still have the quickest car on the grid when the new season begins next month. And that could remain the situation until the next big change in the regulations around how the cars are built.
The last such change in 2022 was the cause of the power shift from Mercedes to Red Bull. And long-time Sky Sports F1 pundit Pinkham thinks Hamilton, 39, will have to wait until the next set of rules before he will have a realistic title shot.
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"I think he'll be driving until he's 50," she joked, stating her belief that Hamilton will still be around in 2026 and beyond. However, despite saying she "hopes" the Brit will be able to add to his seven championship successes, she warned it is not likely to happen soon.
She said: "The trouble is, I think that Mercedes have been a bit on the back foot with changing the direction of their concept. And I think it takes a regulation change maybe for them to come back to the fore.
"But, look, we say, 'Well, they were miles off', [but] he still finished third in the [2023] championship and Mercedes finished second, so not necessarily as far off, but they just didn't look like challenging for a win."
That warning came despite team principal Toto Wolff telling The Telegraph that he is adamant Hamilton could have a chance at the title without having to wait for the new regulations. He said: "There is a reason Lewis is a seven-time world champion, and has broken all the records... his ability is on a different level.
"If we are able to give him a car that he actually feels, that drives in a way that he can trust, he will be on the level that's needed to win the championship. 39 is no age.
"Always believe it's possible. You cannot start the season with an attitude of, 'This is not going to be possible'. We saw last year with McLaren, what a huge step they made with a single upgrade. We've signed a two-year deal with Lewis, and we owe it to him, to George [Russell] and to all the team to give it our full attention in 2024 and 2025. I think it's possible."