IS LH's race pace that untouchable though?
Unquestionably (like Vettel in some respects) he can knock out a quali lap probably better than the car deserves - I have no arguement about this at all
Race pace though Im not so sure - again on individual races he might be brilliant, but over a full season (and admittedly it will be interesting if this shows up next season or not) I think its questionable
Even before the coming together with Massa on Sunday, there were laps when he was right on the pace - but I would say (at a guess going from the live commentary rather than any analysis) half of the 24 laps pre-coming together LH seemed off the pace considerably
While he was sitting behind Massa it appeared that he was just hanging onto the back of the Ferrari rather than actually pushing and harrying FM like he would normally. Now maybe he is learning not to stress the tyres too much and this is why it appeared this way (Lewis actually learning from previous mistakes, would be a HUGE improvement) - but he wasnt doing fastest lap after fastest lap in sequences like JB was doing at the same stage (or close to it - wasnt he 1s down or something /lap)
Only by about lap 20 did he start getting as fast as the leaders and harrying FM ahead of him.
(Obviously unfair to compare after that, as there could have been non-visible damage to his car )
Even in other races there seem to be phases where he is as fast as Vettel / JB / Alonso but other times when he is relatively slow (even allowing for any difference in tyre compound)
From a mental point of view - just like footballers - doing the day job on the track (or football field) should be where he forgets everythign else and just does what he does best and blows the field away, if he can only do it when he is totally relaxed and happy......he may not have as good a career as his natural talent should allow
IF this is the case, then Hamilton really cannot continue driving with Button as his team-mate. Hamilton, needs to have the entire team based around him (as does Vettel), otherwise, he doesn't seem to perform at his optimum.
The big question is next season, and how next seasons car is developed in accordance with each drivers wishes (there wont be anything massive for one or other driver, being McLaren - but there could be little things) and of course with LH being in the mood he was in in the last few months, could itself have an affect on the initial designs for 2012. (Not to mention JB's reported £50m deal for THREE years - which is significantly better than what was discussed here, where as LH still has to sign post 2012)
Be very interesting to see what kind of effect on LH takes place IF JB can dismantle him again next season as definitively.
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