I'm not sure I agree with the Mclaren being as good as everyone says. Button had a good win, and Lewis did look very good in the wet untill the SC and the team f'd it all up, but in the other races both have looked really of the pace. Neither has driven off into the distance like Nico or Seb. I think they have the right idea for getting ahead in quali, but there is more to winning the CWC and DWC like RB did then simply getting the car on Pole. For now though, simply getting back on Pole would be a step forward. Not being the quickest, being off the race pace, messing up 2-3 pit stops a race and chewing your rear tires does not make for a winning combination.
Before the season started, i picked Alonso (i obviously didn't know how bad the car would be). I shall stick with Alonso, he's the 1 driver you can never rule out.
More in terms of stories I'd like to see unfold than what I predict will happen: Button: After the fairy tale of Brawn GP I'd really like to see his walk into what was called "the lion's den" play out on the main stage. It's all very well him beating Hamilton last year but that was Vettel's season. In Brazil 2009, Vettel came from 15th on the grid to finish 4th but this is hardly remembered while Button's drive from 14th to 5th and the WDC is celebrated. I feel Button's pwnage of Hamilton last year is similarly forgettable outside of fan sites so I'd really enjoy seeing him beat Hamilton to the WDC. Vettel: I think I've made my ambivalent feelings towards Vettel plain. 2010 was dumb luck, 2011 was all car (I exaggerate massively but to make a point) - I'm not a fan. I'm starting to warm to him though. After two seasons of precision, speed, good tyre management and a strong mindset, this year's Australian GP saw him struggle to control the car in qualifying and the opening stint of the race. Over the course of the race, however, he got on top of the car and made it do what he wanted and drove to a very strong 2nd place. Malaysia was a frustrating blip for him and China was a lesson in Pirelli-2012 but in Bahrain, with a better (but still not dominant) car, he achieved a 2011-esque result. If the competitiveness throughout the field remains as tight as it is at the moment, this could be the year he proves (to me) that 2010 wasn't dumb luck and 2011 wasn't entirely the car. Also, a triple WDC is something to be celebrated. Alonso: It's just due. In my opinion he's markedly the best driver of the current period and it's a travesty that he's only had one opportunity to win the WDC since 2007. F1 is the poorer for it and I think his career suffered more from the events at McLaren in 2007 than any other party. Ferrari are more of a fascination to me than an inspiration but I sincerely hope they give Alonso a serious challenger by the next GP. Alonso used to say his ambition in F1 was to win the WDC for two different teams and I think that's the mark of a great driver. I want to see him achieve it. Raikkonen: or, equally, Lotus. I'd like to see a team outside the top three challenge for the WDC. I welcome Raikkonen's return far more than I thought I would and I think he suits Lotus better than McLaren or Ferrari. I remain dubious about whether he has the work ethic to take his team to a championship without their rivals imploding but I'd like to see it happen. I wouldn't mind seeing Hamilton win it either. He was unbelievable in 2007 and is still one of the best racers and overtakers out there but, with his newfound conservatism, I feel he's lost his edge. He's never been great at driving managed races and, in those situations, depends heavily on the team to provide a car advantage, a superior strategy and all the decisions. He can undoubtedly drive a less-than-perfectly-balanced car faster than Button, but Button always seems to drive a less-than-perfectly-balanced race better. I also think struggling to beat Massa to the 2008 WDC showed worse championship management ability than Button doing enough in 2009 to wrap it up in the penultimate round but Hamilton says he has a 'gameplan' so I guess we'll see. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that Webber might mount a challenge, too. I'm not sure he's fast enough against Vettel if Vettel has a car that can carry the speed into the corner without losing balance but I'd be happy to see Webber in the mix.
I think it's still too early to say. After Spain, we may get a good indication due to the updates, but with the cars all close together, with so many drivers able to fight for a win, its impossible to tell. I think the best bet is to predict at Hungary, or past halfway, because of development. Mercedes and Lotus struggled at the end of last year because they simply ran out of money to compete with the top 3 teams. Lotus ended up going backwards. I think towards the end of the season, it will still be Mclaren and Red Bull, maybe Alonso as well. I voted for Hamilton because he and Jenson are more than capable of winning the championship, but its all down to the team. In all 4 races they've ruined at least 1 of their drivers races by either mucking up the strategy or pit stops. Like 2010, its all coming down to the team, and not the drivers. They let them down massively then with the same sort of problems, but also didn't bring any decent updates with them. I think Hamilton over Button, cause Lewis is going the consistent approach that he had in 2007. His record in the first half of that season was outstanding, and i think he can do it again with this mentality, despite the fact that Jenson is a much, much better driver than since he joined I can see the whole season being like 2010, but closer, and therefore the best season in the history of F1
I agree with both of those points. This poll should have been set to close within a month or two and then a new poll should be created for the summer break. I like seeing if or how people's opinions change. Even though it's called the drivers' championship, I still see the WDC as a team effort, between driver, mechanics and (on-the-fly) strategists. The WCC is more about team management, car design and development, and planned strategy but I think the adage "win together and lose together" is very real for the WDC. I'm not sure if you're making the point that it shouldn't be "all down to the team" but I think the driver is just one part of the team that wins or loses races.
In internet forum terms: - if you win its mostly due to the team - if you loose its all the drivers fault Of course these two can swap depending on who you support and/or dislike
Kovalainen: âAlonsoâs leadâ¦yes, he will take the championship this year. Whatever the special circumstances or the weather conditions, there is always a common variable, and that is Alonso being somewhere at the front" Salo: "Their car has improved considerably, and now even Massa is able to drive it well. The Red Bull guys (Vettel and Webber) are pretty close to Alonso in the championship, but in the long run they are fighting each other for points. Alonso has a teammate that will not take his points in the same way"
Alonso vs Vettel IMO. Rosberg and Hamilton are outside bets. Schumacher if he can translate Q to the race ? In my dreams.
Since the Mugello test (which McLaren thought was pointless and what great strides they have made not using their race drivers) its been a complete turnaround for Ferrari, my money at the moment is on Alonso, with Rossy a outside bet. My opinion could change after Canada though.
I think this is the chance Mercedes needs to apply the pressure at the top of the WDC, both Seb and Webber will probably lose 2nd-3rd after Canada. Being overtaken by Lewis and Nico, Alonso maybe losing his lead or still keeping a 3-4 point lead. I still think Seb and Mark are both making that car look better than it is as Newey is still messing around with exhausts and tunnels. Upgrades are none existent on that car compared to the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes.
I'm still sticking with Alonso, i know there are about 3-4 cars better than the ferrari, but good luck finding 3-4 current drivers better than Alonso.
I said after Malaysia that Alonso was picking up points in a supposed dog of a car which would give him the edge later on. Then again, so are Vettel and Webber.
