Speculation has been rife about Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 future since he won the 2017 World Championship at October’s Mexican Grand Prix.
He is signed to Mercedes until the end of the 2018 season, with only Hamilton himself knowing his plans after that.
The British driver has played no small part in fuelling whispers about his future, saying recently he has “no desire to match” Michael Schumacher’s record (7) of the most Formula 1 World Championship titles. Hamilton currently sits on four titles, and is a clear favourite with bookmakers to win a fifth in 2018. It seems strange to many fans that he would not be gunning to overtake Schumacher’s record haul.
Hamilton Assures Fans He Will Not Follow Alonso
Recently though, Hamilton has moved to calm fears over a possible move to another motorsport. Asked his opinion on Fernando Alonso racing in the Indy 500, Hamilton said, “I admire what Fernando wants to do, but for me, Formula 1 is the maximum experience a driver can have.” He then added what could be viewed as a slight dig at two-time champion Alonso, saying, “A great driver, if he cannot win in Formula 1, will look for other races to win.”
The one certainty though, is that Hamilton will be back and ready to go for Mercedes when the 2018 Formula 1 season gets underway in Melbourne, Australia on 25th March. Mercedes, of course, have been the dominant force in Formula 1 over the last few years, winning the last four Constructors’ Championships.Bookies have them as clear favourites to win five in a row.
However,most betting markets are backing Ferrari and Red Bull to make a little ground on Mercedes next year. McLaren are also talking up their new Renault engine. A big season could be on the cards for them too.
Are Vettel, Verstappen orRicciardoWorth a Bet?
For Hamilton the likely challenges are going to come from familiar foes, with Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo all expected to put pressure on the British driver’s title charge. There should also be a challenge from Hamilton’s team-mate ValterriBottas, with bookmakers makinghim fifth-favourite for the title. A lot of money will be backing Hamilton though, and if you are backing him you can get all your latest motorsport free bets at Freebets.co.uk, as he just seems too good for the rest.
If the bookies are correct and Hamilton goes on to win his fifth F1 title next season, then he will equal the record of the legendary Argentine driver Juan Manuel Fangio. For someone as determined as Hamilton, it seems inconceivable that he would not then push on to go for Schumacher’s record after that.
However, one should not discount the immense pressure put on Formula 1 drivers in the modern era. Not only is the season longer – in Fangio’s time there were eight or nine races, today there are 21 – but the demands for driver fitness, performance testing and media obligations are more intense than ever before.
If Hamilton does decide to hang up the driving gloves after the 2018 season, he will still have a spot among British racing legends. Nobody can take away his record or the joy he has brought his fans. Still, what a sight it would be to see him hunt down Schumacher’s record.
