HE has been installed as the favourite to retain his Formula One crown and become only the fifth man to win five F1 titles.
But Lewis Hamilton is not assured of success in 2018.
Here, SunSport looks at what could lose him his F1 crown.
HIS EGO
Incredible as it seems, the biggest threat to Hamilton’s title hopes is actually himself.
Just when things are going well for the Brit, there seems to be a bump in the road.
Some have suggested in the past that Hamilton actually likes the self-invented heat because it puts himself under pressure which in turn brings out his best.
However, that is not always the case.
There are occasions where his ego has spiralled out of control leading to a meltdown.
When Hamilton only wants to do what he sees fit, it leads to tension – between himself, the media and even the team.
He got off on a bad foot here in Melbourne with a surly display in his first press conference.
He clearly did not want to be there and made no attempt to hid his feelings; hardly the normal behaviour of a defending world champion.
HIS RIVALS
Both Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel are credible threats to Hamilton’s title.
Obviously, it depends on the reliability and performance of their respective Red Bull and Ferrari cars.
Verstappen has been identified as a future world champion and it was interesting to note Hamilton’s dynamic as the Dutchman joined him on the podium towards the end of last season as the Red Bull made late progress.
Hamilton was quick to praise the 20-year-old and said he relished the challenge, yet maybe those words of praise could be a form of concealing his concerns.
As for Vettel, he is as determined as ever… a ruthless and meticulous competitor, who is motivated to win his fifth title and his first with Ferrari.
Vettel has been compromised by Ferrari’s reliability but if the team solve that, he will have a good shot at the title.
HIS CAR
Hamilton has had the best car on the gird for the last four years, which is hardly surprising considering Mercedes’ budget of around £300million a year.
However, last season we did see some frailties at the tight and twisty tracks, such as Russia, Monaco and Singapore.
A repeat this season would be a concern for Mercedes as Ferrari and Red Bull seemed to have cars that adapted to all circuits.
Mercedes will have spent a considerable amount of time investigating, but the reality is we will not know if they have solved their problems until they get to those tracks.
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HIS PRIVATE LIFE
His performances on track often reflect the state of the situation in Hamilton’s private life.
His splits with former girlfriend, Nicole Scherzinger, had a significant impact on his form on the racetrack.
While it appears he is currently not in a relationship, of course this could change over the duration of the season.
Furthermore, there is the demands Hamilton puts on his own schedule.
His growing fondness for fashion and subsequent travel is bound to have a impact on his energy levels.
Hamilton is now 33-years-old and while he says he is physically in the best shape of his career, the mental fatigue of a F1 career matched with a hectic social schedule could test those levels.
HIS TEAM-MATE
Valtteri Bottas arrived at Mercedes last season as a late replacement for Nico Rosberg, who shocked the team with his decision to retire just days after winning the title.
Bottas had limited time to get up to speed with Mercedes’ procedures and the car was already then tailored to suit the demands of Rosberg and Hamilton.
Now with a season under his belt, the Finn has the chance to show what he is capable of.
His contract is also due to expire at the end of the season, so he needs a string of early results to prove to his boss, Toto Wolff, that he deserves a new contract.
Bottas would have spent the winter analysing where he went wrong in 2017… after a solid start his form dipped.
He will be determined to correct those mistakes and if he does and starts winning, then he could put pressure on Hamilton.
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