Can Lewis Hamilton still win an elusive eighth world title with Ferrari?

At 41 years old and following a difficult first season at Ferrari that yielded zero podiums and an 86-point deficit to teammate Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton faces perhaps the most significant question of his storied career: does he still have what it takes to claim that elusive eighth world championship?

The early signs from Barcelona testing offer genuine encouragement. Hamilton topped the unofficial timing charts with a 1:16.348, fractionally quicker than George Russell's Mercedes and completing 209 laps across three days. 

More significantly, the seven-time champion described the SF-26 as "more enjoyable" to drive than the ground-effect machines he has struggled with since 2022, noting it features "sharper balance" despite being "oversteery and snappy."

Yet bookmakers remain sceptical, listing Hamilton at 16/1 to 33/1, eighth among the championship contenders. Russell leads the market at 11/4, with Max Verstappen close behind. 

The harsh reality is that Ferrari finished fourth last season without a single victory, their worst campaign since 2020, whilst Hamilton endured his most difficult four-year stretch in F1.

The 2026 regulations represent a reset, a clean slate that Hamilton himself has called "probably the biggest regulation change I have experienced in my career." 

Ferrari have channelled resources into this moment, gambling on the new era to end its 19-year drivers' title drought.

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert recently told RacingNews365 that he believes Hamilton does still have what it takes to win a title, but that everything must come together.

Whether Hamilton can deliver depends on Ferrari's competitiveness and his ability to reverse a trend that has seen him outscored by teammates in three of the past four seasons. The question remains: can he defy Father Time one final time?

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