- 13 Sep 10, 16:04#215128For me, there are 5 factors, that will determine the current WDC will be the current points, car, team, strategies and drivers. The winner will have the best combination of these over the next 5 races. The current points is a known factor so not much to be said there. other than Mark and Lewis have significant advantages over Fernando, Jenson and Seb.
Next we need to compare the cars. The RB is the best package for an overall fast lap, this is mostly due to aerodynamic grip. But, the car has proven itself slightly brittle, particularly brakes and, the Renault engine is a little down on power compared to the others. The McLaren, for me is actually the fastest car, but lets itself down on the aero side. What's more, the rear suspension configuration has really meant the blown diffuser was never going to work properly and deliver anything like it does for the other teams. As far as the car goes, Ferrari started the season in 3rd place really. Overall it was a huge step forward on the F60, and it was competitive, but, just not quite there. At the start of the year, the F10's trump was how kind it was to its tyres. But its trump was its enemy in qualifying, Fernando and Felipe just couldn't get enough heat into the tyres in 2 or 3 laps to put out their best times. However, over the season, the Ferrari team has probably produced the best upgrades - overall. Their gaps between the 3 cars are way less now. Don't believe the talk that McLaren will suddenly drop off for the remaining races, sure, they won't have the perfect tracks for their car (although I do think Korea will suit the McLaren) but the MP4-25 will be right up there.
In the "team" department I think there is a clear leader, and it isn't based on how friendly and buddy-buddy people appear in the media - unfortunately, that won't win races. The leader is clearly Ferrari, what's more, most of their advantage has been handed to them by the British press and the Team Orders fiasco. Ferrari have established, a team ethos and it will operate for the rest of the year. McLaren on the other hand, are stuck with actually having to live up to their media - a real albatross for them. RB are in the same position as McLaren, but probably to a lesser degree as Horner has seen this coming and has tried to just keep quiet and let McLaren build this rod for thier own backs. Publicly and internally Ferrari have the advantage of feeling they are like a "team" with "team mates" who, just like soccer players, can pass the ball to each other depending on who is in the best position to win. McLaren, and to a lesser degree RBR just can't do that now, they have to go solo - lone dogs, and, they know if they do try any team orders their will be howls of hypocrisy against them.
Leads us to strategies - RBR, to me, have proven themselves lacking in this department over the year. If they had performed reasonably in this department, they would have already wrapped up both titles. Ferrari have had some hits and misses, but they have acted as a team. McLaren have had some excellent strategies, but, they haven't been team based - they have come from Jenson. His side of the garage's tyre choice and pit stops won him two races and his call on the F-Duct at Monza is another example of what I mean.
Lastly we need to look at the drivers. Well all 5 are very good. 3 are already champions. At the risk of the howls (again) of being called a Lewis basher, I still think he and Seb also, push too hard and make too many mistakes. Mark has maturity and knows if he doessn't do it this year, he probably will never be WDC. Fernando knows exactly what needs to be done and is cool and calm. Look at how he handled the abusive media conferences immediately after Germany - there was a massive amount of pressure on him and the team, but he took it in his stride, used it to galvanize the team and actually turned it into a positive for Ferrari. Jenson too is very calculating and cool and calm - essential qualities, I just think that, unfortunately, he just isn't quite there in terms of speed on the track - he may be only 1 or 2 percent down, but it is visible. Lewis has now beaten him 9 to 5 in qualifying and 9 to 5 in races.
So where does that leave us.
Lewis and Mark get a tick for the points lead
RBR get the tick for the car (but only just, for me this was a close category)
Ferrari get a tick on the team front
Ferrari gets a tick for strategy
Fernando and Jenson get the final ticks for drivers (also very very close)
The final yields:-
Mark 2 ticks
Lewis 1 tick
Fernando 3 ticks
Jenson 1 tick
Seb 1 tick
Leaves me with
1st Fernando
2nd Mark
3rd Lewis *
4th Jenson *
5th Seb *
* Same number of ticks so current points decides.
"He was the fastest driver I ever saw - faster even than Fangio"
________________________- Mike Hawthorn on Alberto Ascari 
these guys' heads. 
I did try to be unbiased.
