[Enigma]

When Keith published an article on rate the race thing, most of the top 10 were won by Hamilton. There was a lot of people saying that it’s because it’s a British website with a lot of British users and therefore the ratings were biased, which is partially true I reckon. But it seems that Hamilton’s wins are usually the best races. This year Hamilton won 3 races, which were amongst the best ones – Istanbul, Montreal and Spa. And it was his team-mate who won two very good races as well.

Hamilton also won Montreal 2007, Fuji 2007, Melbourne 2008, Monaco 2008, Silverstone 2008, which were all great to watch. He did win some boring races (Shanghai 2008 and a few more). Alonso, for example, won 5 races this year, and only Korea was really exciting.

So my question is, apart from interesting wet races, in which Hamilton usually shines, why is it that Hamilton seems to win so many good races, and so few boring ones?

[Icthyes]

Well like you say, it helps to break down those 14 victories:

Canada 2007

Indianapolis 2007

Hungary 2007

Japan 2007

–

Australia 2008

Monaco 2008

Great Britain 2008

Germany 2008

China 2008

–

Hungary 2009

Singapore 2009

–

Turkey 2009

Canada 2009

Belgium 2009

As you can see there are few dud races. Hungary 2007 was more famous for what happened before the race, China 2008 was a drive into another postcode (as Charlie Cox would put it, you might have to get used to that one next year) and his 2009 wins were at boring tracks. In each case he comfortably had the best car on the day and a team-mate running further down, which will always produce a boring victory.

That leaves 10, some of which were wet, as you say: Japan 2007, Monaco 2008, Great Britain 2008 and Belgium 2010. All but the latter were conducted in pretty atrocious conditions for all or part of the race. These are conditions Hamilton has traditionally done very well in and tend to produce exciting races.

So that leaves 6. Canada 2007 and Australia 2008 were victories despite Safety Cars making a regular appearance, producing exciting races but also harder-fought wins (having your lead constantly eroded). Indianapolis was decided in a mid-race fight with Alonso where he superbly defended an overtaking manoeuvres into Turn 1. Germany 2008 was won from behind after McLaren gambled on leaving him out and bringing Kovalainen in to cover his race. Turkey 2010 saw the Red Bulls crash but also another fight with a team-mate. Canada 2010 saw changing track conditions and another fight, this time with Alonso.

So it seems he wins races where he pulls his socks up and gets the job done, like driving in the rain or racing for position. Which is of course exciting.

[Author]

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