Despite Michael Schumacher's best finish of the season (fourth) at today's Spanish Grand Prix, and the first time in which the seven-time World Champion has outperformed his young Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, the new reality was perfectly expressed when Ferrari team leader Fernando Alonso's race engineer came on the team radio to tell the Spaniard that "Michael is holding everybody up...".
Mark Webber's Red Bull was relentlessly perfect, winning from pole, Alonso lucked into second when Lewis Hamilton's McLaren blew a tire on the next-to-last lap (although the TV commentators did point out that his hell-bent-for-election driving style is harder on tires than his smoother teammate Jensen Button), while Webber's Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel, to me the fastest driver of the lot, was very disappointed when a variety of mechanical and race-luck circumstances relegated him to third.
Still, it's the most competitive F1 season, with more potential winning cars and drivers, we've seen for some time - maybe ever.
Wonder if Bernie Ecclestone's been watching NASCAR...
I appreciate that Hamilton's driving style is harder on his tires, but I do believe that to be overblown somewhat by the media. On Sunday, Lewis was hardly punishing his tires through the last half of the race. Meanwhile, Button admitted that his half-hearted attempts to pass Schumacher had caused tire degradation, which caused him to nurse his tires to the end of the race. So, in Spain at least, Hamilton was more the victim of bad luck than rough driving on his tires.
I appreciate Button's driving style, which at times seems smooth and clinical. I also appreciate Hamilton's style, which is more agressive and "slashing". Reminds me of the old Senna-Prost comparison at McLaren. It may also have something to do with the age and experience gap between Hamilton and Button.
Posted by: Carlos | May 10, 2010 at 10:13 AM