F1 Fanatic

After Jerez testing this year BBC’s Gary Anderson stated that if Mercedes want to get Lewis on the front row scoring points they’re going to have to work very hard (Basically suggesting that they are not near front running pace). If the Mercedes starts the opening weekend with quite possibly the 5th or 6th fastest car then is it to be expected that Lewis is to try and replicate what Alonso did last year? There is a lot of conversation based upon who is currently the best driver and with Lewis and Alonso in contention, does anyone believe that this could be an important time to analyse Lewis, as he would be in a similar situation as Alonso last year?

@Kingshark +1

@Giggsy11 For the sake of Mercedes, I really hope they have a competitive car. With Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault all being very competitive in terms of pace in 2012, this will be tough. Plus the driver caliber at the top is very high which will make it even harder.

It’s going to be hard for Hamilton – he faces a lot of opposition on track simply because a move against Hamilton is bound to be remembered for life for the other driver and this year he will have to fight inch by inch. Last year Raikonnen showed that he is the master of inching within another F1 car and that he’s also wise to know when to fold and can keep his cool while 10 cars pass him. Hamilton will have to do the same this year – he’ll need to bank points for the season.

I assure you Nico will be banking every point he can get this year….

IMO Rosberg is underrated. In 2010, he beat Kubica in an equal car, who according to many forum members, was the second coming of Jesus Christ. Likewise, Michael Schumacher, even in his early 40′s, is still a very capable driver. He was beaten by Rosberg three years in succession.

China 2012 — this particular race, in my eyes Mclaren were as quick as Mercedes. He beat both Hamilton and Button, fair and square. He’s only had two races where he truly had race winning machinery. China and Monaco 2012. Once he won, the other time he finished 2nd. Not a bad record, should I say?

I’d say he’s better than Button over a single lap, over a race distance Button is probably just as good. Hamilton will face genuine competition year.

Of course, throughout the entire season I still expect Lewis to come out on top.

“China 2012 — this particular race, in my eyes Mclaren were as quick as Mercedes. He beat both Hamilton and Button, fair and square.”

It’s worth acknowledging that McLaren shot both drivers in the foot though- Hamilton with a grid penalty (having qualified 2nd) and Button with a bad pitstop. Hamilton’s penalty was also fairly disastrous in that every pitstop put him back in traffic, making catching up quite difficult.

I do agree though that Rosberg is something of an unknown entity.

@mclaren

you combine his raw pace and alonso’s consistency and you get Mr Unbeatable!

Don’t Forget to add a Newey designed Redbull into that equation ;)

@geemac Sorry but I don’t think ’1 world championship, 21 races, who has started from pole 26 times’ proves hes a ‘great’ just yet. Hes a brilliant driver and I have no doubt that he can be great but when people look back at that who ever watched him race wont believe he’d even be in the running for one of the 10 best to ever race. Alonso with 2 titles and Vettel with 3 titles have been put in many of the F1 community’s top 10 drivers but Hamilton has been left behind in most cases, so yes, he does need to prove himself to live up to his potential and be a ‘great’.

@geemac Well i asked:

If the Mercedes starts the opening weekend with quite possibly the 5th or 6th fastest car then is it to be expected that Lewis is to try and replicate what Alonso did last year?

There is a lot of conversation based upon who is currently the best driver and with Lewis and Alonso in contention, does anyone believe that this could be an important time to analyse Lewis, as he would be in a similar situation as Alonso last year?

Most people have paid attention to the title which was written like that to draw attention, not on what the more detailed thread comment I supplied.
From the current crop of drivers you would be called a ‘great’ to be the best of this current generation. As Alonso is regarded as the best driver currently, analysing Lewis who is now in a similar situation to Alonso last year when he gained much more respect in a dog of a car would help us view whether he is the current best or not.

I for one cannot wait for the damn season to start:-) I really miss the howls of the engines searing through my living room on Saturdays and Sundays.