F1 | Is Hamilton Past His Prime?

[Paul Jeffrey]

Lewis Hamilton turned 35 this year... and with young chargers locked into top drives for the foreseeable future, is the end near for the six-time World Champion?

35-years-old isn't exactly old, but is certainly closer to the downswing of a career than the very beginning. With young superstars Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen both locked into long-term deals with (hopefully) competitive cars for the next few years, and talents like George Russell, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris waiting in the wings, 2020 does start to feel like the begging of a new era in Grand Prix racing.

Hamilton has been the dominant force in Formula One racing for the past few seasons, strapped into the most competitive car in the field, but each year his Mercedes rivals are inching closer and closer... could 2020 mark the end of one of motorsports most dominant team and driver combinations? Or at 35, can Hamilton maintain his form into the sunset of his career?

 

[mrbungle83]

I think he can still mix it with the youth, he still seems to have good pace with experience I think he will be a force as usual.

 

[UMC 22]

Bit of an odd question, given that he's currently the world champion. I don't think having young, talented drivers coming up through the ranks makes an older driver past their prime. We see time and again that raw speed alone is not the measure of a successful driver. Experience counts, and Lewis has bags of that. The young guys will certainly give him a lot more competition in the coming seasons, but I think his overall performances show that he is still very much in his prime, not past it.

 

[CrimsonEminence]

 

[WPxNJ]

10 seconds clear of the field, complaining. He's at peak whiner going into 2020.

 

[o Tiger Feet o]

Obviously not...

 

[Yasko]

Haters will say yes. The man just won the world title. What kind of question is this?

 

[Deleted member 561801]

Nope, it's time for him to retire.

 

[Jim Layee]

D- Too obvious of an attempt to get views. Must try harder

 

[Stanislav Minakov]

Surely one year more, but who knows who's gonna get the advantage from new rules. People say that Mercedes a little stuck with their progress in 2019. There are still a lot of rumours that Mercedes will leave after rules overhaul and stays as a semi-factory team with McLaren and also as an engine supplier so maybe Hamilton will join another team or will retire. I think he will retire for sure if he will get his 7th title.

 

[muzikant]

Lewis is always focused!
That makes him a real challenge and a real champion. strong mind also!!

but of course also the combination with the german solid rocket ship.
this team is well organized

But everything will depend on the other two .. Red-Bull and Ferrari .. or Lewis titles keep winning. Max and Leclerc are young, hungry. And are able to grab the title in 2020

Ferrari which is still a chaos..(2018 they had the best car) 2019 cheating
a chaos despite attracting Binotto as team leader and Leclerc as great talent. How is the mood 2020 between the Vettel and Leclerc pitbox garage? and between Vettel and Leclerc on the track?

Is Red-Bull competitive from the start of the season? and Honda has enough power to challenge Mercedes on most of the tracks... not only Mexico and Hungarian Brazil...........

 

[Dobermann92]

Racing is one disciple where age doesn't really matters, or even an adavantage because of more experience. He is a fast driver and consistent of doing that, also we shouldn't forget that he is sitting in the best car of the F1 roster.

 

[Crash T Dummy]

Is he past his prime ? Probably.
The more important question is, if he is still better than everybody else?

 

[Jimlaad43]

Short Answer: No

Long Answer: Nope

 

[Damage Inc]

Of course he's past his prime, that's determined by his age. Everything about his physical condition WILL deteriorate from now on, even Lewis can't beat the aging process.

BUT the question is will it stop him winning? Probably not for a couple more years at least, as long as his car is competitive. If he keeps going like Valentino Rossi he'll still be able to give the young'uns a fight but winning will be less and less likely as the years go by.

 

[JoeAMGC63]

I am by no means a huge fan of him personally, but he showed us last season he still has consistency. No point in even discussing it until we see a decline in performance.

 

[DND]

To say he is past his prime would be a gross overstatement. With athletes competing longer, we may be asking this question at the end of the decade instead of the beginning.

The bigger question what rule changes will be made that will 'allow' anyone to dominate.

 

[ermo]

Nope, it's time for him to retire.

Given your avatar picture is of Kimi, that seems an odd (and borderline hypocritical) position to take regarding L. Hamilton?

 

[Ryann]

These topics...

 

[Porschefan 23]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA So funny!!!!