Lewis Hamilton has conceded to sometimes wondering if he “still has it” amid Mercedes’ relative F1 struggles after ending a second successive season without a Grand Prix victory to his name.
Hamilton and Mercedes consolidated overwhelming everything in the vicinity when the game’s super cross breed time started in 2014, with the driver proceeding to pile up six world titles in seven years to add to the crown he recently accomplished at McLaren and the Silver Bolts coming out on top for eight titles on the bob.
However, after being dethroned by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a hotly-contested 2021 campaign, Hamilton has been unable to mount another title challenge as Mercedes battle to produce a winning car to F1’s latest ground effect ruleset.
Debuting back in 2007, Hamilton had not gone a season without winning a race until 2022, and the now 38-year-old admitted in a wide-ranging interview with BBC Sport that the challenges faced raised some questions in his mind.
“Ultimately, when you have difficult seasons like this, there are always going to be moments when you’re like, ‘Is it me, or is it the car? Do you still have it? Has it gone?’” Hamilton commented.
“Because you’re missing that, you know… When the magic happens, when everything comes together, the car and you, and that spark, it’s extraordinary. And that’s what you’re in the search for.”
He added: “I’m only human. If anyone in the world tells you they don’t have those things, they’re in denial. We’re all human beings.”
Despite those concerns, Hamilton ended the season third in the drivers’ standings behind Red Bull pair Verstappen and Sergio Perez, with team mate George Russell 59 points back in eighth.
Hamilton declared himself pleased with his own performances on race days, but feels there is work to do in qualifying going forward, with the Mercedes drivers finishing level in terms of their one-lap head-to-heads.
“The vast majority of my race exhibitions have been great,” Hamilton said. “So that, I am content with – developing back to the level I ought to be.
“Qualifying is as yet a region that should be moved along. We battle as a group getting the presentation out of these tires.
You’ll see there was one end of the week where George would be greatly off and I’d be alright, and afterward it exchanged the alternate way. Furthermore, those are down to little subtleties with the vehicle.”
Hamilton stays the best driver in F1 history with his previously mentioned seven world titles, 103 race wins, 104 post positions, 197 platform completions and in excess of 4,600 places.