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[What's Burning?]

I was hoping to start a thread on this topic a few races now, not a support or bash thread (although we know that's what this will ultimately turn into) but simply a means to compare the guy versus last year.

I'm not sure if it's a matter of straitening out personal issues, or having his father back as a manager or simply growing from experience and the big realization of life hitting you in the gut. The reason doesn't really concern me.

Lewis Hamilton is a better driver on track this year because of it. He's a better representative of the sport off track because of it as well. We've seen his this year be controlled when need be and push like crazy when needed as well. But most marked of all is the absence of dumb things on or off track. Lewis is still there, as we saw him attempt to pass Alonso twice before getting to the DRS zone, it was great to see the exuberance as so may other drivers on the grid would have simply waited for the inevitable, but not Lewis, and that's what I like about the guy's driving style, he's always looking for a way. This year however, he's much better all around, a much more complete driver, so I'm glad he's made the corrections in his life that needed to be made, and I'm hoping to enjoy his other WDCs to yet come with McLaren.



Please feel free to share (amicably, logically and factually) your contrast and compare examples between 2011 and 2012.

[Hammer278]

I can't fully agree with the fact that people are calling him a 'better driver' than last year. Simply because, last year the mentality HAD to be different, McLaren were playing catch up from Race 1..and it was either an all out attack or settle for 2nd place.

Lewis was thinking Championship and drove according to that plan, which was not the best strategy to get the most points...and in the end got beaten by his teammate who ended up nowhere close to the Championship himself...so you get the what's the point feeling anyway. Though Lewis did make a few costly mistakes, Hungary comes to mind...that was his race and he blew it with the spin.

This year is a completely different story...consistency is the name of the game and McLaren started out best. It's a new plan this year, and Lewis is driving to perfection as far as I'm concerned. As long as he keeps this up and McLaren churn out developments which match that of Ferrari/Redbull, I see Hamilton as 2012 WDC no doubt about that.

[madbrad]

You're totally overanalyzing the thing.

[What's Burning?]

You're totally overanalyzing the thing.

What? No elaboration?

[cheekybru]

I can't fully agree with the fact that people are calling him a 'better driver' than last year. Simply because, last year the mentality HAD to be different, McLaren were playing catch up from Race 1..and it was either an all out attack or settle for 2nd place.

Lewis was thinking Championship and drove according to that plan, which was not the best strategy to get the most points...and in the end got beaten by his teammate who ended up nowhere close to the Championship himself...so you get the what's the point feeling anyway. Though Lewis did make a few costly mistakes, Hungary comes to mind...that was his race and he blew it with the spin.

This year is a completely different story...consistency is the name of the game and McLaren started out best. It's a new plan this year, and Lewis is driving to perfection as far as I'm concerned. As long as he keeps this up and McLaren churn out developments which match that of Ferrari/Redbull, I see Hamilton as 2012 WDC no doubt about that.

I agree with this, a lot of lewis's "Bad driving" in 2011 was just trying to get past and make up for problems with the car, this year hes in a much better position so no silly errors.

Having said that i do think hes improved, hes saving his tires better than JB now and last year it was the other way round at times, but hes still got the pace god knows how hes doing it (look at spain, 15+ laps on first set of supersofts, jenson did about 8 ) I think hes seen that this what new F1 is all about and hes adjusted brilliantly

but yeh him and alonso = most complete drivers on the grid imo, hopefully lewis can proove over this year and the next that hes up there on his own as the best

[LewEngBridewell]

In 2011, Lewis totally lacked consistency, in 2012 he's got it. Good times, is all I can say.

[andrew]

Last year Whitmarsh was conspiring against Hamilton. This year Dennis is conspiring against Button. I think they take turns at it.

A lot of it is probably down to the car and tyres suiting one driver more than the other.

[racechick]

Last year Lewis was very frustrated (team mistakes in quali,unfair penalties, Whitmarsh doing his jenson PR stuff, Vettel in a faster car) his frustration showed in the car when he was out of place on the grid. When he did have a clean race the pace was there and he had 4 wins. This year he's risen above the Whitmarsh twaddle, he's adjusted to how the tyres need to be used and has a car capable of fighting for pole. He is also keeping calm and playing the long game. His personal life is happier, he has a manager on board who understands F1, Ron is around more and his father is around more. All that contributes to a better performance from him. His speed, and adaptability to car and driving conditions have never been in doubt, but now he has more of the other things in place that are required for success, and we see the results.

[scotty]

2011 - stupid driving errors and crashes
2012 - no errors or crashes so far

That is really and simply making the difference. Don't really agree with the personal life stuff a) cause it shouldn't affect any driver worth their salt anyway and b) the drivers actually have more pressing issues to deal with when on track at 200mph!!

[f1ea]

Good driving by Lewis so far. He's much less in the spotlight too... Actually, all drivers are kinda out of spolight. No one knows what these so called personal issues are/have been/or are not there now...... But i dont see it as a determining factor.

In fact, all i read from racechick post up there was excuses and speculations, when the simple fact was that last yr he was poor.

Who knows how the yr will end up though... So as much as Perez gets rumoured for ferrari after each podium, and maldonado was a favourite to Monaco after his win, i guess its now time to say stuff about Lewis.

[geetface9]

Don't really agree with the personal life stuff a) cause it shouldn't affect any driver worth their salt anyway

Then maybe he's not worth his salt

I'M KIDDING, DON'T SHOOT ME LL BRIGADE

[racechick]

Good driving by Lewis so far. He's much less in the spotlight too... Actually, all drivers are kinda out of spolight. No one knows what these so called personal issues are/have been/or are not there now...... But i dont see it as a determining factor.

In fact, all i read from racechick post up there was excuses and speculations, when the simple fact was that last yr he was poor.

Who knows how the yr will end up though... So as much as Perez gets rumoured for ferrari after each podium, and maldonado was a favourite to Monaco after his win, i guess its now time to say stuff about Lewis.

Ive given the reasons I think he's driving better this year, not excuses. You on the other hand have said "Good driving by Lewis so far" Statin' the bleedin obvious isnt it

Don't really agree with the personal life stuff a) cause it shouldn't affect any driver worth their salt anyway

Then maybe he's not worth his salt

I'M KIDDING, DON'T SHOOT ME LL BRIGADE

Dont worry geetface, I wont shoot you down You make a good point. Lewis says he was affected by personal issues, as do those around him, So I'll take that as fact over supposition on a forum. And anyone suggesting he isnt worth his salt, based on their own suppositions clearly has an issue with him.

[geetface9]

Yeah on a serious note I can easily believe that personal issues would affect him on track. Having just gone through a divorce myself (I know lewis wasn't married, but he'd been with nicole for 4 years at the time I think, which is very significant), that affected my mentality 24/7 for the last six months, no matter what I was doing (not that I've done anything remotely close to driving an f1 car, ever). And then lewis' fallout with his dad or w/e. Double whammy. That would wear on you on the track, where you are expected to be #1 by millions of people across the world, and also expecting yourself to be #1 but you have on your mind distracting you all the time whether you want it to or not. I guarantee you that if lewis said nicole didn't cross his mind during a race at some point throughout last season he's lying.

[LewEngBridewell]

Yeah on a serious note I can easily believe that personal issues would affect him on track. Having just gone through a divorce myself (I know lewis wasn't married, but he'd been with nicole for 4 years at the time I think, which is very significant), that affected my mentality 24/7 for the last six months, no matter what I was doing (not that I've done anything remotely close to driving an f1 car, ever). And then lewis' fallout with his dad or w/e. Double whammy. That would wear on you on the track, where you are expected to be #1 by millions of people across the world, and also expecting yourself to be #1 but you have on your mind distracting you all the time whether you want it to or not. I guarantee you that if lewis said nicole didn't cross his mind during a race at some point throughout last season he's lying.

Absolutely!

[scotty]

And anyone suggesting he isnt worth his salt, based on their own suppositions clearly has an issue with him.

Clearly has an issue? Get over yourself.

It is my opinion that personal things shouldn't affect a driver when they are actually on track driving the car, if they do then it is clearly then their flaw in my book. San Marino 2003 - the Schumacher brothers still manage excellent drives (i think both getting podiums) despite their mother freaking dying in the lead up to the race for christs sake. Gerhard Berger took his final F1 win not too long after his fathers death. These are proper personal problems. And no doubt countless other drivers will have had family problems during their career, that we never heard of. So the personal problems for Hamilton is either an excuse for bad driving or a flaw that he must work on in order to improve.