Mate, if you think it's boring you obviously don't have much interest in it. Even though Vettel has won the last three champs the racing is closer than it has been for a long time, there've been some classic GPs in the last couple of years. If we were talking about most seasons from say 2000-2006 you might have a point.
So the Belgian GP is about to get underway at Spa Francorchamps. Will we get a fully dry race, or will there be some wet weather to maybe mix the order up in this micro-climate? Hopefully there should be lots of overtaking on this track. I'm going for a Hamilton win from pole, but Vettel could get a good start and drive off too.
Vettel looking comfortable at the front but not opening up a huge gap so Hamilton could challenge, there has been some good overtaking so far, and tyre strategy will now start to come into play as the first round of pit stops get going. Quite a few early stops so tyres are wearing out faster than expected.
Corrected that for you. If you put any of the top drivers in the world (Alonso/Hamilton definitely & Raikkonen/Button possibly) in that Red Bull for the last three seasons they would have picked up 2-3 WDCs too. Vettel has been extremely lucky to have the fastest car, Adrian Newey and a team heavily weighted in his favour for all this time. That's why I can't put him in a list with the all time greats. Until he is in a scenario where his racing skills are truly tested, either in a car that's off the pace or with a competitive team mate pushing him at every race I'll always see him as a driver that had everything given to him rather than one that goes out there and takes it. He's great at driving away from the field from the front row (and there's skill needed for that in itself) but when has he ever produced a fighting win from eleventh on the grid.
Alonso did well as much as I hate to say that. Hamilton's car just doesn't have the pace in races which must be so frustrating given he shown he can compete by finishing on pole in the last 4 qualifying.
Hamilton and Alonos's WDC came when they had the best car. Only Senna and Schumacher in recent history have won WDC when they have not had the best car.
Nope, lost interest years ago. I used to watch it but its all about who has the fastest car rather than who the best driver is nowadays. Used to watch a lot of Touring Cars too but that's gone the same way. Even the bikes aren't what they used to be #healthandsafetymad
Fair enough. Another easy win for Vettel again today in the end, in the fastest car, even though the racing is closer throughout the field than it has been for years. I think driver skill is still an important factor but it's more in car development throughout the season than in head to head overtaking nowadays. But yeah, the car is king at the moment, maybe new engines next season will close it up.
If Hamilton had last season's Red Bull he'd be 2x WDC now and if he had this year's RB he'd be leading the championship. Same for Alonso. I wouldn't put Button in there because he has a very particular driving style, likes it smooth and silky all the time. Lewis and Fernando are very adaptable and can be quick under various conditions.
Which sort of backs up my point of it being all about the car I just think its lost its edge. Used to be brilliant in the days of Senna vs Mansell, even the Hill vs Schumacher was better than now.
I agree with you about the car and technology being all. I'd love to see all teams being issued with the same chassis and engines before the season and being either being allowed to develop the package throughout the season or not being allowed to develop it. The former would let the best teams profit and the latter would showcase the abilities of each driver.
oh and re: above discussion.. that is for LESSER forms of motor sport. F1 is the pinnacle of technology. teams should develop the whole lot and be great at it. if there were more silverstones and Spa's and less hungary to singapore to bahrain races on proper tracks we'd be laughing. sure IF button or if hamilton had this or that.. thats fine cos its the truth but the fact is a great young driver won 3 WDC with redbull and is about to win no 4... whats the difference between that and: senna hopping round cars? Prost hopping round MANSELL looking for the best drive. Every world champion you can mention had the "best car" hill villenuve Schumacher Button HAMILTON Hakkinen Alonso no 2. Raikkonen (lucky one) Wheres the problem.. the only WDC i can remember where a lesser dirver in the better car got schooled was schumacher v hill or perhaps alonso's first WDC. It is very common for the best car to win the races. thats the way it ought to be but the reality is the whole package win, car, team ,driver... some teams can do a mercedes and be great at one aspect, some can go do it for half a year but the very best (newey) can do it year in and year out and standards don't drop. Vettel will win no 4 this year, and he might snag another too boot... then again next year red bull could be muck you never ever know for sure.
