McLaren have a history of being strategically weak. They don't do these things on purpose, but when it comes to strategy, they are crap.
Many people on the ocuk forum have stated that Hamilton needs to start making is own strategy calls. The reason why they say this is because McLaren's pitwall (and the alleged strategy team which consists of super computers and boffins) have a track record of being bad at their job of making a good strategy.
The above, is one of the reasons why I believe that unless McLaren produce a car which is much faster than Vettel's, Vettel will beat both the McLaren drivers.
One point that astounds me about Button is that he is in his mid-30s and year on year, he is still improving. The last time I saw this type of improvement in an older driver was D.Hill, who was also in his 30s when he was improving as a driver and it culminated with him winning the title in 1996. Mansell (IMO), also had his best years in his 30's: in 1991, 1992 and 1993 (IndyCar). So what we are currently seeing is not very common.
I hope Hamilton can get back to form. It won't happen overnight, and though he was soundly beaten in the last race, the good thing was that he didn't crash or make any obvious mistakes. If he can put a string of 3-4 races together with no mistakes, even if he gets beaten by Button, it will help build his confidence and hopefully bring him back to form, which in turn should give the viewing public some exciting races later on in the season.
With regards to Ferrari: I know that some people are suggesting that the Ferrari car isn't "that" bad. I would disagree. All the former drivers who have seen in-cockpit footage of the Ferrari have all stated that it looks like a very difficult car to drive. The fact that Alonso manages to score decent points in that car, suggests to me that Alonso really is an unbelievably brilliant driver and Massa's difficulty in scoring points suggests that the car is terrible.
There have been some bad calls from McLaren in the past without doubt, but without all the information that the team have at the relevant time, no one at all (let alone tv spectators) can have a real idea about why certain decisions have been made.
Hamilton making his own stategy calls would be a complete disaster right now (Im not suggesting you are meaning this), he would come in for 5 stops a race ,and maybe spectators would get electrifying overtakes, but he wouldnt be competing for podiums/ wins. You are correct, in time he NEEDS to do this, but imo this takes years to accomplish, its not the work of one or two seasons (just from the amount of different possibilities /combinations that exist in current cars).
IF the strategy team is as bad as suggested sometimes on here, they wouldnt be in jobs anymore (or Whitmarsh, or LH or JB for that matter either).
This is the first time in a very long time the McLaren has actually started the season smoothly with a relatively untroubled winter, team mistakes should be more obvious if the performance is a degree better than those around them.
I agree LH currently - with his less clear strategical mind - might need a better car than RBR to win, but JB has proven last season he can beat SV with an equal car (even in the dry)
I personally think JB just isnt given the credit some of his drives deserve (a lot on here want to find fault with other's drive as if JB is gifted places / wins rather than earning them himself) - and McLaren with a tough team mate is just proving how good JB actually is (and remember 2010 McLaren wasnt even designed with JB in mind, yet he equaled LH win for win that season also).
He hass also learned from 1st working with Ross Brawn (a tactical mastermind), and 2ndly from a much more professional team in McLaren -(compared to the 1/2 team that was Brawn lol).
In one sense an obvious mistake would be easier to forget about, the fact that he was slower in the race than his team mate throughout could weigh heavier on his mind (ignoring the bad start).
It would be a hard decision for the team, but after SO long McLaren not winning the WDC/WCC, how many races to you expect McLaren to give Hamilton IF he continues to be 2nd to JB before team orders are issued (given how close RBR race pace appears at this point)......they cant leave it too long.....
