Time to replace Hamilton at McLaren?

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Are you referring to the recent praise he gave Hamilton? Alonso is the master of mind games - and he was targeting Vettel. No sane driver would ignore the current world champion if they were being serious. Remember when he told the media that Schumacher was the biggest threat for 2011? - just mind games.

<laugh> 2007 <laugh>

Yeah, he coped really well with mind games. If all else fails, blackmail <laugh>
 
Why would they replace Hamilton with Heikki after what happened in 2008 & 2009!? That showed how much better Hamilton was than Heikki so would be a strange move.

I think Heikki has improved significantly since his McLaren and while Hamilton is probably slightly quicker, I think it would be better for McLaren's sake if they were to focus more on Button while Heikki is close behind.
 
Thing is, I can't see him having another 2007 season. Next year with the car designed more towards Button I expect Hamilton to become even more frustrated and have more issues.

If he leaves McLaren, I can't see Red Bull or Ferrari taking him (and if they do, I expect Vettel or Alonso to give Hamilton a beating). As far as winning teams go, that only leaves Mercedes (and there are no guarantees that they will become a top team).

The thing we seem time and time again in F1 is the unknown. Who knows what'll happen next year. Winter 2008, who'd guess Button would win 2009 in a "Brawn". 2010, who'd think Vettel could pull it back, from Webber, Only to see Alonso steal it, and then loose it at the end. This year, utter domination by vettel, maybe less unlikely but come the start of the season would you put money on it.

F1 is a strange sport and we never know. Hamilton may have lost his head a little, but his talent is all still there, maybe to be shown next year...
 
Forza Ferrari:1756114 said:
Are you referring to the recent praise he gave Hamilton? Alonso is the master of mind games - and he was targeting Vettel. No sane driver would ignore the current world champion if they were being serious. Remember when he told the media that Schumacher was the biggest threat for 2011? - just mind games.

It would be a bit late in the day for mind games, wouldn't you think?
 
I think Heikki has improved significantly since his McLaren and while Hamilton is probably slightly quicker, I think it would be better for McLaren's sake if they were to focus more on Button while Heikki is close behind.

Most certainly yes to the first point. He has got back the confidence that drained away in his time at McLaren, but it is a big thing to say he would do better than Hamilton.

He is beating Trulli, but not by that much.
 
BrightLampShade:1756135 said:
F1 is a strange sport and we never know. Hamilton may have lost his head a little, but his talent is all still there, maybe to be shown next year...

Yup... it really is a strange sport. The form of both team and driver can fluctuate quickly , so who knows who might come out of the gate first in 2012. Who knows.... it may even be a Schumacher revival for all we know. The boards would be colorful if that were the case. :)
 
Interesting article, but Lewis has won a championship with MCLAREN, and for that reason everyone in the garage will always believe in his ability. Jenson has had a great season, but to only have 43 more points and same number of wins is a very very scary statistic for JB considering Lewis has had the worst season in his racing career. McLaren have the best driver line up on the grid so there's no need for change.
 
Maybe a lot of my opinion is due to my belief that teams are better off having a (lenient) no.1 and no.2 driver - so the drivers don't take points away from each other and cost each other WDC.

This is why drivers like Rosberg, Sutil and Kovi would be good alongside button . Button is quick and consistently enough to beat them, but they wouldn't hurt Button's progress in the WDC and they'd be decent enough to score a lot of points for the constructors.
 
<laugh> 2007 <laugh>

Yeah, he coped really well with mind games. If all else fails, blackmail <laugh>

Do you really think a comment like this isn't a dig at Vettel?

Alonso said:
"In fact, at the next winter testing he [Hamilton] will be the only one I'll be watching closely. The other guys can win if they've got the best car; he's the one who's able to clinch a championship with a car that's not the best."

and what has 2007 got to do with anything?
 
Interesting article, but Lewis has won a championship with MCLAREN, and for that reason everyone in the garage will always believe in his ability. Jenson has had a great season, but to only have 43 more points and same number of wins is a very very scary statistic for JB considering Lewis has had the worst season in his racing career. McLaren have the best driver line up on the grid so there's no need for change.

But the gap would of been bigger if not for the 2 Mechanical DNF's he had caused by McLaren themselves. Though Lewis has now had a mechanical DNF, it would be fair to say Jenson was on target for a "possible" 60+ point gap to Lewis.
 
Forza Ferrari:1756202 said:
Maybe a lot of my opinion is due to my belief that teams are better off having a (lenient) no.1 and no.2 driver - so the drivers don't take points away from each other and cost each other WDC. .

It's better to have a clear number 1 in a championship fight so that you don't cripple your own efforts... I'm just not 100% convinced that I'd have Button as my number 1. He is in top form these days, no doubt... but is it enough? Either way though... I'd say that Button has silenced his critics.
 
It's better to have a clear number 1 in a championship fight so that you don't cripple your own efforts... I'm just not 100% convinced that I'd have Button as my number 1. He is in top form these days, no doubt... but is it enough? Either way though... I'd say that Button has silenced his critics.

Well he often outperforms Hamilton these days and imo he's not as good as Vettel and Alonso but he's the next best thing - so if McLaren give him the right car, he is a serious threat to rival teams. I can't say the same for Hamilton anymore.
 
Hell, i dislike Hamilton, but replacing him due to one down season is preposterous. On his day he is unbeatable.
 
Maybe a lot of my opinion is due to my belief that teams are better off having a (lenient) no.1 and no.2 driver - so the drivers don't take points away from each other and cost each other WDC.

.

A shame but true in part, though Ferrari seem to suffer more than most in this respect. McLaren and Red Bull try to run two top drivers, but you are correct that it can be counter-productive if they take points off each other, especially if they are not totally dominant. It woudl have made sod all difference this year such was Vettel's overall superiority.
 
Forza Ferrari:1756250 said:
ll he often outperforms Hamilton these days and imo he's not as good as Vettel and Alonso but he's the next best thing - so if McLaren give him the right car, he is a serious threat to rival teams. I can't say the same for Hamilton anymore.

I think you might be being a little premature. People wrote off Button years ago and look how he has turned his career around.
 
On his day he is unbeatable.

Like Kimi then - and we know what happened to him. It's not very impressive if "his day" only comes around two or three times a year.

Hell, i dislike Hamilton, but replacing him due to one down season is preposterous.

This season to me is rather telling about Hamilton's future. He might be less error-prone in future or whatever, but the high deg tyres do not suit him and Pirelli show no indications of going more conservative - which plays into the hands of Vettel, Button and Alonso whilst hurting Hamilton and Webber. Also the fact that Button was the better driver this season means that Button will undoubtedly now have more input into next years car. I'm no expert but Button and Hamilton have completely different driving styles.