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[Fact Man]

This guy is amazing and he's only 20 years old. In japan he managed to be in 3rd and if it weren't for LH stupid move he could have finished on the podium. And today, he finished in 4th position and he's driving a lesser car than LH. If Vettel were at McL, I won't be surprised to see him winning more than Lewis. This might prove the point that besides from LH's excellent driving skills, he's also lucky to be driving for McL and it's this factor that pushed him to the top . I have more appreciation for a driver who can push beyond the limits of his car and prove himself than just enjoy the fruits of being in a top car. So who's really the phenomenon or the fresh air in here, Hamilton or Vettel!

PS: to all the LH fans, if you can't take criticism of your driver than seek help. You've been ridiculing FA left and right but that's ok and when someone makes a joke about LH you want him banned. If you can't take a joke than that's your problem. And no, I'm not a great fan of FA. I would love to see Kubica, Nick and Vettel competing for the WDC next year.

[nikon133]

This guy is amazing and he's only 20 years old. In japan he managed to be in 3rd and if it weren't for LH stupid move he could have finished on the podium. And today, he finished in 4th position and he's driving a lesser car than LH. If Vettel were at McL, I won't be surprised to see him winning more than Lewis. This might prove the point that besides from LH's excellent driving skills, he's also lucky to be driving for McL and it's this factor that pushed him to the top . I have more appreciation for a driver who can push beyond the limits of his car and prove himself than just enjoy the fruits of being in a top car. So who's really the phenomenon or the fresh air in here, Hamilton or Vettel!

PS: to all the LH fans, if you can't take criticism of your driver than seek help. You've been ridiculing FA left and right but that's ok and when someone makes a joke about LH you want him banned. If you can't take a joke than that's your problem. And no, I'm not a great fan of FA. I would love to see Kubica, Nick and Vettel competing for the WDC next year.

As usual, there are loads of great drivers in F1, but unfortunately most of them will never get a real chance and they will fade off, accept average and live with it. Sometimes I do think F1 should be more like Indy - almost exactly same cars, and everything is down to driver.

[supeindesu]

In fact he has a better job than LH, you have to probe yourself into a "low" car.

[McLaren Fan]

There are a lot of talented drivers around in Formula One, some are the finished product, others will be in a year or so. Although Hamilton is very good, he is not the only one who is very good. If I were a betting man, I would put a lot of money on Vettel doing just as well as Hamilton in equal equipment.

[mudd]

Vettel is definitely attracting good attention, hes done things with Toro Rosso that none have done before. Big future ahead for him, its guys like him, Rosberg, Kubica that stand out as quick young drivers so their future should be solid.

[cap-dude]

Lewis also has had the advantage of having a proper career, karting - F3 - GP2 - F1
While Vettel has went karting - F3 - F1.
If you ask me alot of drivers go into Gp2 to learn consistency, and Vettel has skipped that Stage. In my opinion its too much to fast. I think it will be a while till hes ready to take on the challenge of winning a world championship.
I think the same with Nakijima williams 3rd driver, if williams give him a seat its too early. I've seen him in Gp2 and hes fast no doubt, but very very inconsistent

[saz17]

agreed Vettel, has the skill just not the equipment. To accomplish what he has, with what he has, really proves how good this young lad really is

[britishtrident]

Vettel may well be a champion, he perhaps lacks a little of the composure Hamilton has.
But a lot of the credit goes to the good job Berger is doing running the team.

[aboldero]

there are several young drivers who are very close to hamilton on performance..

Vettel, Kubica and Sutil...

they have all pushed their cars beyond the limit to get the results, just because LH is in one of the top two cars and has not needed to push the car beyond the limit to get the results to get his wins and podiums does not mean that he is not able to.. to see how good he is you do need to look at his performances last year in GP2 (Monaco, where he ran rings around everyone... Turkey where he finished 2nd despite being last at one point) He has also proved in qualifying that he has the absolute pace, and in general, he has out performed his double world champion team mate, so you cant really slate him... maybe next year his car won't be quite so good, then he'll really prove himself..

I personally hope he does win the championship this year, as he has easily done enough to deserve it, and that FA goes to Ferrari next year (although unlikely) then give another of the good young drivers a chanch with him...

how can he not deserve it??? 4 Wins, 6 poles, 2 fastest laps... and if he doesn't do it then Kimi for champ... I dont think FA deserves it, he has done little to help the team this year and lots to destabilise them, they deserve better from someone of his quality...

[ArtHowe]

I personally hope he does win the championship this year, as he has easily done enough to deserve it...

how can he not deserve it??? 4 Wins, 6 poles, 2 fastest laps... and if he doesn't do it then Kimi for champ... I dont think FA deserves it, he has done little to help the team this year and lots to destabilise them, they deserve better from someone of his quality...

Well said Aboldero, my sentiments entirely... screw the sour grapes!

[f1ea]

Kimi is the best driver in F1... But he has to learn "the art of spoken language".

So yeah, maybe Max and the FIA want more of a "Tiger smile" for his "Frosted flakes - the breakfast of champions" comercials

Vettel, Sutil and Rosberg have shown great potential. But Hamilton has shown potential and also consistency. Lewis has the car, of course... but still he's been amazingly consistent.

Alonso is a worthy 2 time champion. And if he wins this one, then worthy as well, from the driving point of view. He may be complicated (or at least he's portrayed that way), but his abilities are obvious. And I don't really care what his situation is with Ron Dennis or whoever... it is his job to keep his drivers and team happy no matter what goes on.

[ArtHowe]

I would have thought that his primary job was to secure the Constructors' Championship. I agree that happy campers within the team is very important at all levels, but Alonso has proven to be one those flawed characters who has a proclivity to blame other people for his own inadequacies and who will never be happy unless he is accorded all the privileges his over-weaning ego demands.

[f1ea]

^^ yes you're right. The ultimate goal is to win the Constructor / driver 's championship, but the whole team harmony side is part of the big picture anyways. So it revolves to being his job... should he accept a certain driver's conduct or should the team take a certain approach to win the championships is his issue because the fans and the media will always be partial.

[ArtHowe]

... should he accept a certain driver's conduct or should the team take a certain approach to win the championships is his issue because the fans and the media will always be partial.

What, exactly, are you trying to say Flea? I can only assume that you intend to say that Hamilton should abandon his efforts to win the Drivers Title in order to help Alonso win it. First of all, what the team does is up to Ron Dennis, not a committee of fans, and he has decided that his drivers have equal status. That being the case, Hamilton is fighting for the title. Where is the problem?

If Alonso doesn't like it... tough titties! Hamilton has been ahead of Alonso in the championship for quite a while. I haven't seen Alonso being a committed team player and helping Hamilton win it for the team.

[f1ea]

What I am saying is that everything that goes on within Mclaren (racing wise) is eventually Ron Dennis' bussiness. Not the fans' not the media's, because the later 2 are mostly partial.

if a Mclaren driver does not feel he has been "retributed accordingly" or given true equal status, then it is Dennis' issue to deal with it by:

a) Having been clear and honest at the time of signing the contract
b) Accepting or punishing of certain driver's conduct
c) Making sure both drivers feel able to win GPs
d) Hiring drivers who understand the internal rules

I do have my opinion regarding the situations in the teams: to some degree Mclaren favour Hamilton and Ferrari favours Kimi. They wouldn't sabotage the other... but they still favour them. BUT my opinion doesn't matter much! because it is probably biased and half-informed.