Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan "no longer trusts" Lewis Hamilton's ability to challenge Max Verstappen for a world title.
Hamilton is without a race win in F1 in over two years now with Verstappen picking up three consecutive world championships.
Mercedes have been unable to provide a car capable of challenging Verstappen, who will once again be favourite heading into the 2024 season.
Hamilton and Toto Wolff were optimistic at the end of the last campaign that they could close the gap to their bitter rivals.
But Jordan has suggested that Hamilton may not be the best driver available to potentially give Verstappen a title fight.
Lewis Hamilton turned 39 years old earlier this month
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“If I had a top team now and didn't get Max, there would only be one driver pairing that would be able to take on the fight with Verstappen: Charles Leclerc and, as a teammate, Lando Norris," he told F1-Insider.
"I simply no longer trust Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, well-deserved champions, to be able to keep up with Verstappen because of their advanced age.”
Jordan still feels Verstappen is far and away the best driver on the grid though, stating the Dutchman is a blend of F1 greats Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.
“I've already experienced a lot," he added.
"It was already clear to Michael after the first test drives at Silverstone: he would be Ayrton Senna's challenger.
"He was so fast straight away that we thought the stopwatch was crazy.
"I also worked with Heinz-Harald Frentzen – for me he is still the most underrated Formula 1 driver of all time.
"He was a gifted natural talent. For me, Max Verstappen is the mixture of Senna and Schumacher.”
Mercedes ended up finishing second in the Constructors' Championship last year, three points ahead of Ferrari.
But Jordan believes Ferrari are better placed to challenge Red Bull heading into 2024 because of their driver line-up.
Charles Leclerc has been tipped to challenge Max Verstappen
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“I only see one Challenger and that is Charles Leclerc," he said.
"Ferrari must succeed in building a car this year that is on par with the Red Bull.
"Otherwise I see black things when it comes to tension.
”It's now less than a month until the 2024 F1 season gets underway with teams set to unveil their car liveries in the coming weeks.
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Max Verstappen has won three consecutive world titles
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Williams and Sauber are set to be the first teams to unveil their new-look cars on February 5 with Alpine following on February 7.
Mercedes will showcase their W14 on February 14, the day after Ferrari will launch their 2024 car.
Pre-season testing is scheduled to start on February 21 in Bahrain with the first race weekend the following week.