Hamilton best driver in F1 next to Vettel... but Vettel not on his level yet

anomalies never repeat

 

show some class if you want to be taken seriously.

 

Hamilton is a fabulous driver - he nearly won the WC in his first ever season with a two-time WC team-mate, and he probably would have done so had in not been for the Max-Ron war going on around him (in Brazil, had McLaren been able to use team orders to stop Alonso the way Ferrari used them to exchange Massa and Kimi, Lewis would have been the WC).

And it would have been an amazing achievement.

His flaw (if you consider it so) is that he thinks he can win from anywhere in any car and he hasn't learnt to play the percentages. Coupled with the stewarding changes to 'the show', it's made for a couple of bad seasons for him, and he's obviously felt the pressure.

Senna shared the same flaw (at least initially), but he never seemed to doubt himself the way Hamilton has.

We are fortunate to have at least three great drivers at the peak of their powers, and one that was great but has lost a little. Button's there to keep them honest, and Kimi is always good value.

 

My top three.

1. F. Alonso.
2. L. Hamilton.
3. S. Vettel.

But put Michael in the same car and he would beat all three of them

 

+1 Great post agreed.

Mclaren at the min IMO, have one of the best team mate parings in F1.

Where as the small flaws in either driver are negated by the other.

Hamilton on form head together unbeatable IMO.

 

Very nicely put, but I'd say that we have one driver on the peak of his powers - Alonso. Vettel and Hamilton are still on their way up, I'm confident that they'll both improve even more.

 

+100000000000. Race of champions all over again!

 

The best driver in F1 is MS, records speak for themselves.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

He was at one point but I don't believe he could stay with the top three, there aren't many who could so it isn't a condemnation. There's no doubting he's remarkable and after all the criticism of his return, I wouldn't mind seeing him at the top of the podium once again.

Wish I could say I was a fan but his antics caused me to lose all respect for him.

As for the op, not much in it between the top three, I can't choose one. Vettel's a lion, Alonso's a thinker and McHam is just bloody fast. I'd love to see the Scuderia make a monumental tweak and Newey dial in the Jag to match the pace of the Mclarens so we'd actually see who was the best but of course I'm dreaming.

Hopefully, the Macs won't run away with it this year before Canada rolls around. I hate the juggernaut years.

Shame about Robert, I'd place him with the top three.

 

So are you basing your opinion on his recent performances with a sub-par car?

Stereo-typical mindset. How about all the BS that has been pulled by current WDC's before and since MS returned to F1?

 

Just because a driver has room to improve doesn't mean that he will.
Lewis' maturation into a complete driver is, as yet, not assured.
I hope to he** he will but I'm unconvinced.

 

I agree with Is... he was the best, but isn't anymore. The air in F1 is thin, and age shows brutally there.

It seems to me that he has managed to throw off the Hollywood ballast that has held him back last year. If he hadn't, I'd not be sure that he stayed in F1 for very long, but it seems that he has found his focus again this season.

 

1) Sure, I don't have much of an option on that one. He was sliced and diced in qualifying by a very good teammate (admittedly not top tier) and also outscored for the past two years. As you said yourself, records don't lie.

2) Like what ? I'll bet I've been following F1 as long as you have and if there's anyone who has used more underhanded tactics than MS, by all means give me their name. Senna and Prost were lightweights compared to Michael.

That said, he's a champion and a deserving one. Just not an endearing one. Give me Kimi or Mika any day of the week and I'll leave it for you to decide if either of them would do the things Micheal insulted himself with. Records go both ways. Imho

 

We shall see. He's taken positive steps and I'm hopeful but unconvinced.

 

Oh my.

At this level the drivers (and fans?) are as highly tuned and highly strung as the cars.

 

Here's a tidbit from some who ought to be a good judge. At this level drivers can't learn how to be fast, but the finer aspects of winning a championship can be acquired with experience. Lewis will benefit tremendously by having Jenson for a teammate, and with a long career ahead (knock on wood) he will win more championships with the right cars.

But Brawn said he was impressed with Button's start to the season. "He's set himself a massive challenge and he is doing very well so far. He also wanted to prove himself at McLaren against the guy who is probably the fastest and most naturally talented in motor racing - Lewis Hamilton."

http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes/motorsport/story/15455.html

 

It is a shame about Michael and his antics like trying to bump people off deliberately.....

Well, Mika was a great driver and I really wished he stayed a bit longer in F-1 - perhaps Michael may not have had so many WDC had he been around.

 

Big + 1 to both points.

 

+1 I Always liked him, I think his family beckoned him, I also think MS respected him, and feared the other Finn replacing him.

 

Button does not have the qualifying, or "run 'em down" speed, but he has the pace and smoothness to get 5 more laps out of a set of tires than (apparently) anyone else. In these years of tire changes, 5 more laps per set is one fewwer pit stops per race--or 30 free seconds (about 0.5 seconds per lap).

 

Excellent post, I agree fully. Let's not forget Vettel was dubbed "the crash kid" for his mistakes in the 2010 season.

 

I agree, Mika was a class act, but had he stayed around MS would still have 7 titles...