F1 analyst Mark Gallagher believes it is a 'travesty' that Lewis Hamilton didn't win a record eighth title back in 2021.
And he believes it would be a huge shock if the Briton retired without clocking up that achievement amid his imminent move to Ferrari.
Hamilton felt he had done enough to win the F1 title nearly three years ago during the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
But he was denied victory in controversial circumstances, with safety car controversy meaning Max Verstappen scooped the prize instead.
Lewis Hamilton is preparing for the new F1 season as he looks to end his time with Mercedes on a positive note
GETTY
Gallagher believes it is a 'travesty' of huge proportions given how Hamilton has struggled in the time since.
And the F1 analyst believes it would be a huge shame if Hamilton is unable to scale the heights of old one last time.
Speaking to Betway, he said: "I think with the passage of time, some of us in the aftermath of Abu Dhabi in 2021 shrugged our shoulders and said it was just one of those things and it was handed incredibly badly (when Lewis missed out on winning the world title).
"But with the passage of time, you know look back and realise that was a travesty of such proportions that it is almost unthinkable that Lewis Hamilton should retire without an eighth world championship.
"So many people feel he was not only deserving of the title but it’s not even a question as we literally saw it with our eyes that he had the eight world title before the person responsible for running the race didn’t follow the rules.
"I’m a big fan of F1 and all of the drivers, they are all amazing but when you focus specifically on Lewis, an eighth title would be fantastic."
Gallagher thinks Hamilton's move to Ferrari is one that makes sense, labelling the move 'damn exciting'.
"We know from everything the Ferrari boss has said that the opportunity of Lewis and Ferrari to come together and do something special over a couple of years – 2025 the last year of the current regulations – the prospect of Lewis Hamilton winning Grand Prix’s in a Ferrari and then potentially challenging for a championship is so damn exciting," he added.
"That is why is has perhaps been one of the most interesting driver changes we have seen since Lewis left McLaren to join Mercedes.
"One of the things that is really striking is that it is more than a decade and a half since Ferrari won a world championship of any kind.
"They won a Constructor’s Championship in 2008 and a driver’s championship in 2007.
"A decade and a half is a long time and is getting on that period between the late 1970s and 1990s before Michael Schumacher to bring them back.
"It feels very painful. Having said this, Ferrari have finished a close second on a number of occasions with Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.
"But they want to win the championship and if you were to write a beautiful storybook about an F1 narrative, the prospect of Lewis Hamilton winning a championship with Ferrari would be peak excitement.
"Let’s all hope he and they get that opportunity because it would be good for F1 and Red Bull or Mercedes would rather be fighting Lewis Hamilton and a Ferrari than anyone else. It’s good for the whole sport."
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Mark Gallagher says it is a 'travesty' that Lewis Hamilton didn't win a record eighth F1 title back in 2021
GETTY
Hamilton is currently in Bahrain for testing.
It's been a slow start for Mercedes, with Geroge Russell struggling to keep up with the rest of their rivals.
And Hamilton said beforehand that he's eager to end his time with the Silver Arrows on a high, insisting he's operating at the peak of his powers despite entering the twilight years of his career.
"I feel the most motivated and focused I've ever been," stated the Stevenage-born racer.
"I mean every year you come back and you're like 'I'm fitter than ever' and all these different things but I genuinely feel I've put more work and more time and more focus into preparation this year.
Lewis Hamilton is currently in Bahrain for testing ahead of the new F1 season
GETTY
"I never thought that at this point in my life that I would have hunger like I do right now and to finish on a high with this team, it would be a dream.
"We've gone through a whole heap together so to finish on a high it would be the greatest honour to be able to help them to get back to the top."
