Will Lewis Hamilton leave Mercedes in search of an elusive eighth world title?

Lewis Hamilton reduce a relaxed determine after what was for Mercedes a shambolic Bahrain Grand Prix. Regardless of being condemned to complete fifth, he smiled via his media interviews and exchanged heat phrases with Fernando Alonso.

High-quality for now, however for a way for much longer?

Whereas Mercedes’ present type – or lack of it, because the fourth greatest workforce on the grid and dedicated to the tortuous job of redesigning their automobile – is barely a serious irritant immediately, it could develop right into a terminal grievance because the season goes on and Hamilton wonders with ever-increasing concern, aged 38, if and when he would possibly win the eighth world championship that may signify the ultimate flick of paint on what he has referred to as his ‘masterpiece’.

And it could grow to be a case not solely of ‘if’ and ‘when’, however of ‘the place’?

In different phrases, will he really feel a pull to go away Mercedes and end his profession in pursuit of his one remaining racing dream at a workforce higher geared up to energy him to the elusive octuplet?

Lewis Hamilton completed fifth within the season-opener Bahrain Grand Prix final weekend

We should not get forward of ourselves, however nor ought to we completely low cost the potential of a transfer. The primary motive for believing he would possibly switch his expertise is rooted within the story of his profession. I nicely bear in mind McLaren’s certainty in 2012 that he would re-sign for them. Many observers agreed, asking why he would forged himself off to Mercedes, then unproven and unsuccessful, reasonably than keep on with a powerhouse workforce of pedigree.

He rightly deduced that the veneer of McLaren’s superiority was sporting skinny to the purpose of phantasm. They’d or have been to lose predominant sponsor Vodafone and engine suppliers Mercedes. Ron Dennis had handed over day-to-day accountability for the operating of the workforce to Martin Whitmarsh. And McLaren have been nonetheless reeling, and arguably nonetheless are, from the imposition of a $100million advantageous within the Spygate scandal of 2007, Lewis’s debut season.

From the Mercedes facet, he was offered the imaginative and prescient of a brighter shore by Ross Brawn and Niki Lauda, and so joined them in well-founded hope. Six extra world titles was his reward.

Mercedes workforce principal Toto Wolff insisted that their dip in type is not going to drive their star man away, saying: ‘He’s an integral a part of the workforce and in choosing the workforce up. We’re sticking collectively. That is not going to vary. We’ve received seven constructors’ championships with him, six drivers’ championships. The connection is holding. We simply have to dig deeper than ever and supply each drivers with a automobile to battle with. They’re doing all the things they’ll.’ 

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff (left) is hopeful that Hamilton will signal a brand new contract

Requested about Plan B if Lewis have been to go, Wolff stated: ‘No level speaking in regards to the driver state of affairs for 2024. All of us must push in the identical path, the drivers, engineers and administration, reasonably than falling by the wayside.’ However what if Mercedes should not the tremendous workforce they as soon as have been, having haemorrhaged key personnel. What if Aston Martin are doubtlessly in competition within the subsequent few races and years? What if the prospect of checking off, as he checked in, by going up towards Alonso in the identical equipment is simply too tempting to withstand?

What if Wolff can not rebuild as astutely as he may brilliantly maintain the success of a workforce he took over as a boil-in-the-bag certainty from Brawn? Mercedes are additionally hemmed in by the finances cap, a ceiling of some £110m that requires a special strategy from their break-the-bank modus operandi of the previous decade.

Sure, I do know Lewis has rhapsodised his affiliation with Mercedes and says he desires to signal an extension on his £40m-a-year contract that expires on the finish of the season. I’d say 55-45, he’ll honour that expressed intention.

But when he feels he wants to maneuver on, who may blame him? It’s his alternative and his profession.