Lewis Hamilton record-breaking eighth F1 title possible under one condition

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Lewis Hamilton does still have what it takes to win a record-breaking eighth drivers’ title — but only if the "stars are all aligned".

Hamilton requires one further championship to eclipse Michael Schumacher’s seven, a total the Ferrari driver has been level on since 2020.

The 41-year-old came agonisingly close to an unprecedented eighth crown in 2021 and would have secured the title had race director Michael Masi followed the rulebook at the time.

Since then, little has gone Hamilton’s way, with the recent ground-effect era proving a real handful.

Last year, his first with Ferrari, the veteran failed to secure a single podium for the first time in his career and finished 86 points adrift of team-mate Charles Leclerc.

It has been questioned whether Hamilton still has what it takes to become world champion again as F1 enters a new era of power unit regulations.

Herbert is convinced the 105-time race winner can claim another title, but that everything must come together for it to happen.

Asked if Hamilton still has what it takes to win an F1 title, Herbert told RacingNews365 during an interview: "Well, I think yes, but you’ve got to have everything that you feel comfortable with working underneath you. So it really comes down to whether he gets that comfort in the car.

"Because you never lose your race craft — the moves you make, the consistency you have, the ability to look after the tyres, or whatever it may be — you never lose that.

"Raw pace, I think, is the first thing to go. Mistakes do start to come into play as you get a little bit older. Unfortunately, from my experience, that’s how it is. But that’s normal, to be perfectly honest.

"So yes, I think if everything — the stars are all aligned — I think yes, that could definitely happen again."