Totally agree with all that Smithers. I should point out that my remarks weren't pointing fingers at comments here, rather the bile posted in comments on various articles by so called F1 fans.
I actually think it is pretty balanced and harmanous on here compared to some of the tripe I have seen elsewhere by so called F1 fans! The press dont help either. Following on from my post: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102913 Sort of shoots my arguement down abit but I think the core message is still pretty accurate.
I would imagine that the difference at Mercedes is that they would be willing to impose team orders if there were a clear leader between the two where as McLaren would be less inclined to do that. I think it's fair that you have to get out ahead before a No. 1 for that year is established.
Perez is a good young driver but he ain't no Lewis... Jenson is a quality driver, hard to beat when the car is to his liking, but again, he ain't no Lewis.. I think if Merc can get him a half decent and reliable car, I wouldn't be surprised if he finishes above both of them next year..
On a lighter note, Rosberg is going to get his little arse kicked, and I would be surprised if he doesn't.
If the Merc is by far the best car at the start of the season Hamilton has a chance, if it isn't I don;t think he has a hope. Brawn doesn't seem to be able to improve a car through a season, his development of the Mercedes and the Honda were, to be frank, awful. Brawn seems to be the type of designer who puts all his eggs in 1 basket and hope it works.
I wonder what odds you could get for only Perez and Hamilton being in the Championship come the final race of 2013
I kinda liked how Hamilton held the record for being the only ever driver to win multiple races per season, he won't hold onto that record outside McLaren though. He better hope he wins this championship or may well end up with only 2008.
His history even going back to Benetton proves that right. Other than the double diffuser, nothing innovative has come from Brawn that really works. His Benettons and Ferrari's were all conventional machines that worked very well. He lacks the creative instinct to do something radically different when required. The DDRS has not worked this season and the concept has possible stalled (no pun intended) development of the car as it was critical to the design. I'm sure Hamilton has been shown the CFD figures for the 2013 car and doubtless they look very impressive but this is a big risk to Hamilton. But then again, Mclaren was a safe seat but for some reason they always just miss out. Did hamilton want another season of 'what if'?
Well he is in for one, I think he has to wait until 2014, 6 years after his first and only championship, to have a realistic shot. Mercedes bailed on Michael, not knowing whether a 2013 contract was to be signed, so I think both Ham and Brawn are in for another rocky, uncertain season.
They hardly bailed on him. 3 seasons with no results or major improvements probably meant the decision was made. As fo the 6 years, remember Michael did not win a title from 1995 - 2000 after he went to Ferrari. That was a similar move to this one. Had no reason to move to a lesser competitive team, but got offered a sack load of cash and the mantle of being the one to return a once glorious name to the top of the sport.
I got the feeling at times that their relationship was fake. Imo unfollowing Hamilton on twitter proves they don't like each other behind closed doors, because Button follows other F1 drivers (De La Rosa, Di Resta and Rosberg).
It shouldn't come as a surprise this but it still is. It's an intriguing deal and it's going to be fascinating to see how he progresses at his new team. For me this is the biggest move in f1 since Schumacher scuttled off to Ferrari in 1996. It more or less cements Mercedes position in the sport for the long run. It is an absolutely massive signing for Mercedes who really can believe that the world championship is a possibility now. Maybe not next season but certainly with high expectations going into 2014. This is a long term project it seems and if it is to work then Lewis will have to enter into a new age of Schumacher like professionalism. Now Hamilton of today is clearly a better driver than Schumacher of today but if he wants to get anywhere near to the level Schumacher did over a decade ago then he has to follow his predecessor's example. His departure from McLaren has been slightly acrimonious. The tweeting incidents and the rather frosty relationship he's had with Martin Whitmarsh over the years has not been to his or the team's benefit. Such was Schumacher's skill on the track and off it, he never resorted to such cool relations. And nor did he resort to the sort of petulance often seen from Lewis the past few seasons. Ross Brawn has to kick that out of him and should make it clear from the outset what he expects from Lewis. Less of the showbiz ridicule that surrounds his life at the moment would help for starters. It'd be refreshing to see more follow Schumacher's stable and private lifestyle away from the track. Schumacher lived two lives essentially. That of the professional racing driver and that of the private family man. Lewis seems to think both go together. They don't though Lewis. You could learn A LOT from the man you are replacing.
Probably the best comment, since this whole saga started. Once he sits in that number 7 car, he needs to remember what you have just said.
