Will this Formula 1 season be Lewis Hamilton’s last?

When you're Lewis Hamilton, there aren't many worlds left to conquer.

Mercedes’ star driver already has the most wins in Formula One history, having finally surpassed the great Michael Schumacher's mark last season on his way to a record-equalling seventh world drivers’ title.

Now an unprecedented eighth crown is in his sights on the eve of the 2021 campaign, which begins in Bahrain this weekend.

But having only signed a one-year extension to his current contract with Mercedes in the offseason, many onlookers have called into question whether this season could well end up being his last.

On the surface the stars do appear aligned for it.

A record-breaking title would be the most fitting of final acts for one of, if not the greatest, the sport has seen while Hamilton's growing interest in the likes of fashion and music off the track give him a logical and appealing next step should he wish to take it.

Drivers, even the very best ones, don’t last forever either with Hamilton set to be 37 when the 2022 season begins, the same age as Schumacher was when he left Ferrari back in 2006.

Mercedes too finally appear to have options, in the shape of Dutch phenom Max Verstappen and fellow Brit George Russell amongst others, who project to at least be capable of filling what would be a gaping void should Hamilton indeed choose to drive off into the sunset at year's end.

The man himself, however, isn't in that frame of mind just yet.

"In the current position I am in I don't feel like I am at the end," he said ahead of Sunday's curtain-raiser. "Over the next eight months or so I will find out if I am ready to stop, but personally, I don't think I will.

"We have got these changes happening next year which are exciting, and this season could be the most exciting one yet. We have new teams, new formats, and it is closer.

"The position I am in has nothing to do with whether we are winning the championship. I don't quit when the going gets tough.

"I wanted a one-year deal. I am fully committed to this sport. I love what I am doing and I arrive more excited than I have in a long time."

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is clear what he wants to see happen.

“I hope so,” he said when asked if Hamilton will be in a Silver Arrows car next year. “The journey that we have had together has been very successful. He has been a Mercedes driver since his go-karting years and he has never raced a single weekend in Formula One without a Mercedes engine, so it is the logical continuation of the story.

“We don’t want to leave it until February again to confirm our two drivers. Valtteri [Bottas] signed last summer, and this is the time when it should happen. It allows the driver to concentrate on the job.

“There are lots of balls in the air and we are always trying to do the best for the team in the long-term, while being loyal to our current driver line-up. Discussions are going to happen, but not in January.”

Following one of the most dominant performances the sport has seen a year ago - Mercedes won 13 of the 17 races to take place in a coronavirus-curtailed campaign - it's easy to understand why.

However, uncharacteristic difficulties in pre-season testing have many predicting a much closer race this time around.

Verstappen's Red Bull appear to have finally delivered a car capable of challenging at the sharp end while others will hope to not be too far behind should Mercedes actually falter.

"We are currently not the fastest, and it is about how are we going to work together, how are we going to unite in order to get to where we want to be?," Hamilton added.

"We are going to have a great battle and that is what I have always loved. It is massively exciting for us as team. I am so excited of that challenge and seeing the other teams closer is going to be great for fans."

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The 2020 season, despite his own personal dominance, played out against a very difficult backdrop for Hamilton.

As well as negotiating a way through the pandemic, he also took up the fight for social justice speaking out against racism as well as taking a knee before races.

His car was also painted black, as it will be again in 2021, as Hamilton put his significant platform to its best use.

"I cannot ignore the fact that last year weighed heavily on me," he added. "It definitely felt empowering to not be silent like some may want you to be. It definitely felt good to take the knee to let the black community know, 'I hear you, I see you, and I stand with you' - and that was important for me.

"There are so many things we need to address around the world and I cannot fix everything but I want to help. We have an amazing platform here.

"I plan to continue to take the knee because what is really important is when young children are watching what we are doing in this sport, and when they see us take the knee, they will sit and ask their parents or their teachers why are they doing that? What are they taking a knee for? And it sparks an uncomfortable conversation.

"It means parents have to educate themselves and the kids are getting educated. It is a fight that is not won. It is a fight that will continue for a long time I am sure but we are in a good time where conversation is healthy."

F1 chiefs have confirmed drivers will be given an appropriate time and place before each race this season to take a knee, should they wish to do so.

It appears Hamilton will be there front and centre doing so for a little while yet.