Lewis Hamilton would look good in Ferrari red. And there's still time…

On the positive side, Hamilton showed yet again in the packed midfield – which continues to defy the sweeping judgement that this season is dull – just what he brings to Mercedes and why he’s still worth the big bucks. On an alternate strategy starting on the hard tyre, he was asking a lot from his 24-lap stint on the quicker mediums but showed the best side of his assertiveness and experience as he moved cleanly past Alonso, Lando Norris and Alex Albon. The pass on the Williams in particular was Hamilton at his finest.

He was lucky that his five-second penalty for the Piastri clash didn’t actually hurt him, such was his gap to Albon at the end. But as usual, he’d maximised what he had under him.

Should he have stepped out of his Mercedes comfort zone for one final fling? Might the challenge he craves have been greater elsewhere. Let’s face it: Hamilton would have looked good in Ferrari red.

So does Hamilton really think he can win that eighth title? There’s no sign of wilting powers, that’s for sure. After what he’s admitted was a “difficult” 2022, he’s looked re-energised this term and crucially has asserted himself over team-mate George Russell, who lags 55 points behind him in the standings. Hamilton made all the right noises about his belief in Mercedes last week, how if the big bounce-back doesn’t happen next year he has faith it can happen the year after. He has plenty of reason to believe in a team that has given him so much since he joined it in 2013, of course he does – but the fact remains it has fallen a long way behind Red Bull. Just how strong is his faith really?

The eighth title doesn’t have to be the only driving factor at this stage. Take Alonso, who now openly admits his own bid for a third championship is no longer the prioritising edge that keeps him motivated. A similar acceptance is probably buried within Hamilton’s decision to recommit. He simply loves being a racing driver, has no desire to give up on his life’s work and backs himself, if the team he considers family can unlock performance, to deliver if the chance arises. Sounds fair enough. He seems to be at peace with his lot.

And yet I can’t help feeling a pang of regret when it comes to Hamilton. Yes, he has been with Mercedes in one shape or form since he was 13 years old. Yes, he has one eye on life after racing – although on this, surely finding post-F1 sustenance beyond an ongoing relationship with the Stuttgart marque won’t be a problem for such a man. But I find myself wondering if this new deal is a missed opportunity for a more fulfilling adventure.

Now, there is more than just selfish wishful thinking on my part behind these questions – honest! At 38, beyond all the wholesome loyalty stuff – which I’m sure is genuine – he must have weighed up the pros and cons of his other options before recommitting to Mercedes. And he must have considered, ‘where else can I go?’ Chasing the best seat on the grid, as his childhood hero Ayrton Senna did when he turned his back on McLaren for Williams, wasn’t really an option for Hamilton. He was never going to join Max Verstappen at Red Bull. But what about McLaren? Alpine? Aston Martin? Williams? On all fronts, why would he seriously consider any of them?

No, the only one that might have made sense was Ferrari, and indeed around the Monaco Grand Prix rumours swirled an offer was on the table – rumours he quickly shut down.

But is that something that would have been a better option at his stage of career? On the face it, Ferrari has underperformed woefully for too long – although its engineers clearly know how to build a quick racing car, even if operationally they have fallen painfully short too many times.

On the one hand, Hamilton doesn’t have all that much time for a big project, and making Ferrari a Red Bull match sure would be a big one. But is it really that outlandish to think it might have been worth a shot? Or has a serene and contented Hamilton simply taken the easy option of staying put? Taking a gamble in the twilight years of his career would have given him a shot of adrenaline that might be stronger and more long-lasting than anything Mercedes has offered. Especially if it turns out the Brackley-based team doesn’t brew the alchemy Hamilton needs to give him another tilt at a title.

Then there’s Fred Vasseur, his old boss from way back in Formula 3 with ASM and GP2 with ART Grand Prix. Vasseur is growing nicely into his role at Ferrari. Monza was a one-off, thanks to an effective, bespoke low-downforce package and fresh engines – but it did at least show Ferrari’s capabilities when it does manage to hit the nail on the head. Under Vasseur, with the right hirings that might have been drawn more easily by Hamilton’s presence, Ferrari could possibly be a better bet to take on Red Bull than Mercedes. That’s not a statement of fact. But by sticking with what he knows, Hamilton has played safe.

Then again, should we consider this the coda to Hamilton’s career – or could there still be one more contract when we get to this same point two years from now? Hamilton will still be only 40. Given the Alonso example, he could still be hungry and strong enough to push on again for one final throw. Might there still be time for a last roll of the dice, whether it be on Ferrari red, Aston green on something else? Whatever, we maintain: before anything else, it’s just great that Hamilton is sticking around at all. But let’s not get fixated on 2025 necessarily being the end-game.