2008 half-term driver rankings part 3
There was plenty of discussion yesterday about how to rank the top three drivers of 2008 so far.
Here’s how I rated Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica’s performances so far this year. What’s your verdict?
3. Lewis Hamilton
Lewis overachieved quite a bit last year I feel and he appears to be suffering a case of “second season syndrome” as known in football circles.He hasn’t lost any of his speed but he’s certainly lost his sang froid. – Francois in the forum
Inevitably Lewis Hamilton’s failures and fortunes have been exhaustively documented in the media. No other driver seems to attract as much scathing criticism for his mistakes and fawning adulation for his successes. Putting the hype and hate to one side, how has he actually done this year?
Compared to the first half of last year Hamilton has made an alarming number of mistakes. It’s been a trend among many drivers in the championship this year. But while Hamilton racked up podium finishes in his first nine Grands Prix in 2007, he’s been more ‘crash and win’ over the same events this year.
To reiterate: he was penalised in qualifying at Sepang and blew the start at Bahrain, after which he first nudged and later walloped the rear of Fernando Alonso’s Renault. At Istanbul his qualifying lap was messy, making his three-stop strategy all the more unrealistic. He didn’t see the red light in the pit lane at Montreal and crashed into Kimi Raikkonen, and picked up a drive-through penalty within the first half-lap at Many-Cours.
At Monte-Carlo he burst his rear tyre against the barrier… and survived, winning the wet/dry race by a healthy margin. Indeed, he has thrived in adverse conditions, decimating the field in the rain at Silverstone, and cruising serenely to victory on a messy day in Melbourne. And he was well in charge of proceedings at Montreal before that fateful safety car intervention.
It was obvious from the rare snatch of McLaren’s radio broadcast we heard at Silverstone during qualifying what Hamilton’s problem is: “Don’t over-drive” was the clear message. He’s been too reluctant to settle for a comfortable points finish on the days when that’s all that’s available to him. Unless he tempers his aggression in the second half of this season one can quite easily see him losing the title for a second year to…
2. Kimi Raikkonen
Disappointed to be honest, none of the brilliance I remember him producing in his McLaren days when he won races in terrible cars. Now he has – by quite a margin – the best car on the grid and has won twice in 8 races…I think he is slightly disillusioned with F1, will retire sooner rather that later. – Ben in the forum
Raikkonen invariably defies easy categorisation. On his day he is untouchably quick and Felipe Massa cannot live with him, as we saw quite plainly at Sepang. On other days he follows Massa around a few seconds adrift and no-one can quite tell why.
And some times he just goes to pot. His first race as world champion started as a spirited drive from the middle of the pack (due to a misfortune in qualifying) but was interrupted by two unforced spins on a dry day. He went off twice in the rain at Monaco as well.
Raikkonen is undoubtedly one of F1’s best drivers. These problems and Massa’s often superior qualifying performances have blunted his championship campaign this year but some poor fortune as at least as much to blame.
He was taken out of the race at Montreal when a victory was on the cards. A win looked a certainty at Magny-Cours until an exhaust problem let Massa through. And at Silverstone it seemed Ferrari’s decades of racing experience were discarded and the team instead relied on the toss of a coin to determine strategy, chucking a certain podium and possible victory away.
Even with these problems he’s still joint leader of the championship and, with better luck in the second half of the year and still with the quickest car in F1 underneath him, I’d bet on him being champion. But I don’t think he’s been the best driver so far this year.
1. Robert Kubica
Driver of the year so far. – Omarky on the forum
After a shaky 2007 Kubica has been exceptional in 2008. Simply put, no other driver seems to have consistently got as close to the potential of his car while making so few mistakes.
The banning of traction control seemed to transform Kubica’s performance overnight. After often being behind Nick Heidfeld last year, Kubica has dominated him in qualifying. Heidfeld has only started ahead of his team mate once – when Kubica had a car problem at Silverstone last week.
In the races too Kubica has maintained his advantage over Heidfeld. Had he not been taken out of the first race by Kazuki Nakajima – in an incident where Kubica was clearly blameless – he would still be leading the world championship.
He scored his – and BMW’s – first pole position at Bahrain. He might have done it at the first race of the year at Melbourne but for running wide at one corner. Nevertheless the lap was still good enough for second on the grid.
Other mistakes from Kubica have been pretty rare. He was error-free in the wet at Monaco and finished second on a day when even the winner hit the barrier once. And at Montreal when the cards fell his way he was in the perfect place to capitalise, scoring his first Grand Prix win.
That put him in the lead of the championship and, despite his first major mistake of the season at Silverstone costing him several points, remains just two points off the leaders.
It’s still too much to expect he can win the championship with a BMW that’s up with the front runners often enough, and seems to be drifting off the ultimate pace as the year goes on. But I wouldn’t rule him out picking up one or more further wins as the year goes on, especially with two new street circuits coming up which should play to his strengths.
Kubica is in excellent form and if he keeps driving like this he would be a very worthy world champion.
Who do you think has been the driver of the year so far?
alejandro said on 11th July 2008, 17:10
I think the ranking is fair, but hamilton is not the top ranking driver is f1 right now, i believe kubica and raikkonen are better than him. Anyway is just my opinion.
Internet said on 11th July 2008, 17:11
@William Wilgus, so you are saying Kubica shouldn’t be at #1 because he spun out at Silverstone?
sChUmAcHeRtHeGrEaTeStEvEr said on 11th July 2008, 17:14
i agree with dizzy about senna.
Alot of people say that the bad things schumacher did during his career like driving into villeneuve in 97 taint his reputation and devalues him as a driver. but what about senna?? he deliberatley took prost out in 1990, and sopme of his driving at times was stupid. everyone seems to forget that because of his death, tragic as it was, i dont think it should mean people can forget about what he did to prost.
Hamilton is the victim of the british press, like they do to any celebrity, 1 minute theyr the best thing since sliced bread the next they are no one. its sad really hes only 23 and hes either a hero or a villain depending on how good he races. at the moment hes the hero for winning at silverstone, two weeks ago he was no one. i can see why people dont like him hes hyped up soo much on itv its pathetic. im saying this and im a hamilton fan, i want him to win the tittle.
i think its clear that hamilton is the best british driver for years, hes awesomely talented and yes he has made a few msitakes this year, but in time he should make less, every driver does make mistakes why should hamilton be any different because hes driving a mclaren??
@ zebra. what point are you trying to make with the fatsest laps?? raikkonen is already 3rd in the all time rankings for fastest laps, but you dont get points for fastest laps. theres only 1 time when having the fatsest lap means anything and thats in Q3. if anything it shows his inconsistency, the fact he can set the fastest lap but finnish a distand 3rd would infuriate me if i was his team manager.
also note that raikkonen got beaten by coulthard in his 1st season at mclaren. hamilton beat a double world champion, no matter what you say about hamilton he may have been given a better start than most rookies but he took his opportunity.
Dorian G said on 11th July 2008, 17:37
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Hamilton and Alonso finish with equal wins and equal points last year??
Internet said on 11th July 2008, 17:49
Yes they did, but Hamilton was ahead in the WDC by virtue of 1 more 5th place I think.
Melanie said on 11th July 2008, 18:17
I agree with the rankings!
Kubica has been a revelation this year, he has done very well so far and he has certainly been the most impressive.
Kimi had made mistakes but in the last three races he has actually done very well, if only he had some better luck.
Lewis has had some very good races like Siverstone and Monaco, but he seems to balance the good with the bad.
Sebastian said on 11th July 2008, 19:32
@Internet: That’s because Hamilton comes off as a 23 year old virgin with his father constantly in tow.
Brar Soler said on 11th July 2008, 19:38
If Kubica didn´t made his only mistake this year (I think) he would be the leader. He is only 2 points behind, with the fifth car in the grid.
Hamilton is the fastest. I don´t remember the last time a driver arrived with 1min gap advantage to the second (Senna in Portugal?) (Schumacher where?).
Kimi remains the favourite title contender (But with a little bit of disapointment taste). While Hamilton and Kubica have a clear second driver, Massa is still a contender and that´s is the problem for Kimi.
Internet said on 11th July 2008, 20:05
@Sebastian: That’s because his dad is also his manager. Please try to distinguish the two relationships.
Alonso follower said on 11th July 2008, 20:20
Sorry, I feel the need to take this point
“hamilton beat a double world champion, no matter what you say”
as some kind of joke. I do not want to open the debate again, but you should try to look at the facts with some objectivity before claiming that. At least, “beat” cannot be put on the context of the track and the driving. Yes, he “beat” a double world champion in PR skills, yes, he “beat” a double world champion by copying his car setup, yes he beat a double world champion by having him penalized for things that he didn’t. All of this to a team mate and in the end to “beat” him, by a single point!!!!
Is that “beat” a double world champion? I’d say, it’s “cheat” a double world champion.
Internet said on 11th July 2008, 20:31
@Alonso follower: I know Alonso is having a bad year and you’re frustrated but let’s look at it this way.
If Lewis can copy Alonso’s setup and actually be faster than Alonso in the same car and same setup, what does it say about Alonso? Where did this Lewis copying Alonso’s come from in the first place? I saw it on the forums and it seems everyone latched onto it. This year has proven that Lewis is no setup slouch himself and the car is being developed nicely due to his help.
Secondly, Hamilton wasn’t the one that penalized Alonso, it was the FIA. What Alonso did was violation of the rules. Had it been any other driver he blocked in the pits, I doubt any one would be arguing about the punishment. It just happens to be that he blocked his own team mate.
Third, Hamilton was a rookie. Alonso is a 2xWDC. Hamilton never had the supposed preferential treatment at the start of the year and yet Alonso was unable to consistently beat Hamilton.
Nirupam said on 11th July 2008, 20:50
@Alonso Follower
Thanx that you raised it again… Just a little correction, Lewis didnot score more than that of Alonso, only managed to win the second spot by virtue of one more 5th place finish.
Anyway.. lets hope Fernando either shifts to a better constructor or Renaults start making some unbeleivable improvement in their cars(seems impossible though!!)
so that we can have a five way battle(Kimi,Massa,Lewis,Alonso,Kubica) for the top next year!!
How interesting is that going to be? guys..what do u say?
Internet said on 11th July 2008, 21:02
I believe it will still be Kimi vs Massa vs Lewis next year. Alonso won’t have a competitive car and the BMW won’t be as fast as the top two. But we might see Honda and RBR come into play.
Nirupam said on 11th July 2008, 21:18
@Internet
Honda and RBR are preety good as midfield cars but not as the frontrunners, i guess. I am keeping my fingers crossed for an improved version of R28 though!
And if Alonso joins HONDA (as they are very keen on getting him), i might change the first line!! :P
Internet said on 11th July 2008, 22:06
I am just guessing since Newey might have something up his sleeve with the new regulations and Brawn too.