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Helmut Marko thinks Lewis Hamilton is at the absolute peak of his powers as an F1 driver – but cannot remain there much longer.

Hamilton would, by general consensus, have been an entirely deserving winner of a record-breaking eighth Drivers’ World Championship in 2021 had he not been denied it by some controversial officiating by Michael Masi in the closing stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Those contentious decisions have subsequently cost the Formula 1 race director his job.

The beneficiary, of course, was Max Verstappen, whom Marko has helped to nurture in his role as Red Bull’s driver development boss ever since deciding the Dutchman was ready for his grand prix debut with Toro Rosso as a 17-year-old in 2015.

Now 24, Verstappen is the World Champion, but is sure to face a powerful challenge in 2022 from Hamilton, who has all the motivation he needs to try and wrest back the crown following the deeply unsatisfactory finale at Yas Marina.

However, the Mercedes driver turned 37 in January and inevitably there will at some point be a natural descent from the extraordinary heights he has reached as a racer.

Marko feels that is set to happen sooner rather than later.

“Hamilton delivered an incredible second half of the season,” said the 78-year-old during an interview with the OE24 website in his native country.

“I can hardly