When Lewis Hamilton pulls down his visor for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, he will know that it could be the beginning of the end.

During the off-season, and following months of negotiations, Hamilton signed just a one-year contract extension with Mercedes.

From both sides, there was little razzmatazz to welcome a deal which was announced just a month before the new season.

There have been false dawns before. In 2019, Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari were expected to blow Hamilton and Mercedes out of the park. Needless to say, it did not happen.

Vettel has subsequently been transferred to Aston Martin, while the famous Prancing Horse are staggering into this season following their worst campaign in 40 years.

But all sporting dynasties must come to an end and could this finally be the year where Hamilton and his Mercedes team are knocked off their F1 perch?

Sunday's race under the 495 bulbs that light up the Bahrain International Circuit here in Manama will go some way to providing us with an answer.