OPINION: Why Lewis Hamilton Needs to Leave Mercedes to Strengthen His Legacy

Motorsport racing is an art that needs to be honed over time. And Lewis Hamilton has proved over the years that he is a dominant master of the sport – if there ever was one.

At the recently concluded Eifel GP, Hamilton blitzed past the checkered flag to seal his 91st career race victory. And with that, he matched the legendary Michael Schumacher’s record of the highest number of victories.

But like with so many champions in the past, questions have been asked of him. Was it his own driving intellect that helped him to this level? Or have the fascinating Mercedes cars powered him to this degree of dominance?

Can Lewis Hamilton do the same with a non-dominant car?

Mercedes have bossed the turbo-hybrid engines era since its onset in 2014, and there’s no denying it. And with their personnel and resources, the Brackley-based outfit arguably built the most powerful car of the decade.

Many would point to the car and believe that possibly any other driver may have won a championship with it. But then again, the followers of the sport know all too well that no matter how great a car is, you still have to get it over the finish line and win races.

However, Hamilton should not be looking to step into a new car to seek a new challenge just to prove his naysayers wrong; racing at its very core is all about earning success across different types of cars.

Lewis Hamilton has done it before with McLaren in 2008, eclipsing Ferrari’s Felipe Massa on the season’s final day in Brazil. It goes to show that despite varied circumstances, Hamilton has what it takes to win it all.

Could he move elsewhere at this point in time?

Although Hamilton need not prove anything to the world, moving to a team of lesser strength and achieving glory, will certainly offer him a grand challenge. But then, is there a seat open for him anywhere?

Perhaps he could move to a consistent midfield team like Renault in a few years’ time. Fernando Alonso may decide to hang his helmet up by then, which will free up a slot for the British driver.

Or maybe back home to where it all started for him, with McLaren? There is, of course, the conundrum of finding Daniel Ricciardo or Lando Norris a seat elsewhere.

Regardless, the sheer tenacity and desire to win races is something that comes to Hamilton naturally. And leaving Mercedes to drive someplace else might not necessarily be a bad thing.