Reply to: Lewis or Nico?

[norrahe]

Raikkonen is the most boring man in a sport which has quite a few boring people in it

I think he's great!

[d000hg]

But, Button beat his team-mate quite comprehensively in his title-winning year. Similarly, Vettel trounced Webber in 2 (or was it 3) of his 4 winning years.

Saying a driver isn't good because they happened to have a hugely dominant car isn't fair. You don't get the situation where a great driver is in a "good but not quite the best" car every year. Alonso came closest for 2 years in Ferrari but unluckily the guy in the fastest car (Vettel) also happened to be pretty good.When two great drivers have unequal cars, the fastest car wins.

Lewis beat Rosberg pretty comprehensively in terms of race wins. I think Rosberg's (almost) retirement in the final race balanced up the problems/retirements which means the points difference - Lewis over a race win ahead - is representative of the difference between them.

[the_rangdo]

Err, they raced together in the same car for 3 years unless I missed something.

2 of those years Lewis scored more, 1 year Jenson scored more.

So in championship terms , from 2010-2012 Leis beat Jenson 2-1.

All this totalling up of 3 years points to prove a point is a load of tulip.

[TheFaQQer]

I see this metric thrown up a lot (generally as a Lewis put-down), yet I don't see other drivers having multiple years' points summed up.

In championship terms, Lewis beat Jenson 2-1

And in years where they had the same car, they are 0-0 in championship terms.

When Button won the championship, he had the best car by a long way over the start of the season, aided by the interpretation of the diffuser rules.

When Hamilton won this year, he had the best car by a long way over the whole of the season.

When Alonso won his two titles, he didn't have the best car by a long way, and yet still managed to win the championship.

When Schumacher won some of his titles, he had the best car by a long way, and a team mate who had the role of blocking everyone else that might have challenged.

[the_rangdo]

Everybody assumed Button would be no match for Hamilton, but in the three years they had the same car Button scored more points.

I see this metric thrown up a lot (generally as a Lewis put-down), yet I don't see other drivers having multiple years' points summed up.

In championship terms, Lewis beat Jenson 2-1

[original PM]

Hamilton is quite 'polished' and into his looks and brand which puts people off on a surface level, but I don't see how anyone can suggest he's not an incredible driver. He hasn't done enough to cement his place as an all-time great in my view, but is more than capable of doing so.

Hopefully we'll get to see him having to race against more cars next year.

Pretty much all the old school f1 greats were able to compete and win in an inferior car.

Maybe the technology is better now but it just seems that some cars are just better than most others.

[Bunk]

I do hope that Raikkonen does better next year, it will be interesting to see how the dynamic between him and Vettel works. Similarly to see what happens at mercedes especially after this season.

Raikkonen is the most boring man in a sport which has quite a few boring people in it

[d000hg]

Hamilton is quite 'polished' and into his looks and brand which puts people off on a surface level, but I don't see how anyone can suggest he's not an incredible driver. He hasn't done enough to cement his place as an all-time great in my view, but is more than capable of doing so.

Hopefully we'll get to see him having to race against more cars next year.

[norrahe]

Don't know why, but I share the sentiment. BBC has an article about how this seals his history as one of the greatest ever drivers. Really??

This season threw up some surprises - Vettel getting outshone by his team-mate in every way possible must be a wake-up call for him. Will be interesting to see how Red Bull and Ferrari work out next year. Good to see Red Bull finally having the shoe on the other foot and talking about needing changes because Mercedes had a much better engine than they had access to

I do hope that Raikkonen does better next year, it will be interesting to see how the dynamic between him and Vettel works. Similarly to see what happens at mercedes especially after this season.

[TheFaQQer]

I acknowledge Hamilton won, but respecting him is difficult. Why is that?

Don't know why, but I share the sentiment. BBC has an article about how this seals his history as one of the greatest ever drivers. Really??

This season threw up some surprises - Vettel getting outshone by his team-mate in every way possible must be a wake-up call for him. Will be interesting to see how Red Bull and Ferrari work out next year. Good to see Red Bull finally having the shoe on the other foot and talking about needing changes because Mercedes had a much better engine than they had access to

[VectraMan]

I guess we just wait and see. I'd like to see JB fight Alonso, he did well against Lewis.

It would be interesting. Everybody assumed Button would be no match for Hamilton, but in the three years they had the same car Button scored more points. Everybody assumed Rosberg would be no match for Hamilton, but Rosberg nearly won the championship in the same car, and did win the pole position trophy despite everybody saying Hamilton is the best driver over a single lap. I suspect in both cases the hype over Hamilton gave Button/Rosberg extra motivation to prove everyone wrong and probably the same would be true if Button is paired with Alonso.

[d000hg]

Button has stated that while he wants to be paid for his work, it's not about the big bucks. Which suggests he's not playing silly buggers like Alonso or Hamilton would.

Although when it comes down to it, they have all the money in the world! I don't see the salary really being the issue here.

I think you're right that all the driver slots are now confirmed (other than Caterham/Marussia should they return). Magnusson has been fairly good but not exactly set the world alight and he's not very exciting for media either - outside Denmark where he's a national hero.

I guess we just wait and see. I'd like to see JB fight Alonso, he did well against Lewis.

[scooterscot]

My money is on Lauda


I acknowledge Hamilton won, but respecting him is difficult. Why is that?

[VectraMan]

But then it's not just about who does the best job. Button's a lot more expensive, and that's money that could go elsewhere, and as a long term prospect Magnussen may well turn out to be the better option. They could opt to keep Button for another year (and for Honda's first year), and keep Magnussen on as a test driver and put him back in the car for 2016. It's not like Magnussen has any other choice in F1, whereas Button would probably walk away if he wasn't going to get to race.

Ted said yesterday Button's result is what kept McLaren ahead of Force India and that saved them about £10m for next year, which is about his fee.

[d000hg]

It seemed to be looking that way but now I'm wondering if it's swinging back the other way as JB has been doing an excellent job. It is all rather a mess though. Hardly getting off to a great start for 2015.