120 replies to this topic

[scheivlak]

Hungary is closest to Monaco. Mercedes didn't have problems in Monaco either. That was helped by the SC. In Hungary Hamilton didn't need to push and could conserve tyres. Still Hamilton was the first to come to the pits as usual. All in all tyre degradation is not a problem in Hungary.

So you're saying that Lewis won because he could conserve his tyres, and at same time that tyre degradation is not a problem in Hungary.

OK

[mick1]

Probably Lewis but only if Mercedes have genuinely solved their tyre problems, which I highly doubt. If they have Hamilton is capable of the type of domination needed to catch Vettel but it will be really hard because the Redbull is always so fast in all conditions. Kimi is not a genuine threat imo, and Alonso is already gone. You can't win a title in that type of rubbish machinery.

[Gorma]

So you're saying that Lewis won because he could conserve his tyres, and at same time that tyre degradation is not a problem in Hungary.

OK

What I meant was that tyre degradation in general is not huge in Hungary compared to Barcelona for example.

[SpaMaster]

And this is based on what? Oh wait, I forget this is an AS forum and you dont need to back anything up.

Vettel could not pass Kimi on tyres that were what 15 or 16 laps older and neither Button who definitely did not have the pace of the RBR and was on tyres that were 13 laps older as well but I admire your optimism in believing that Vettel would have passed Lewis easily today.

Glad that it helps me in knowing which posts to ignore from here on since there is no credibility here and likely stems from bias against the given driver.

On any other track, Mercedes race pace would not have saved them from Red Bull. Hungary and Monaco are not your usual tracks. Clear? Don't come here expecting the whole world to worship Hamilton, okay?

[Juggles]

My opinion is the same as it was after Germany: Vettel has one hand on the trophy. Provided Vettel doesn't get injured I believe neither Raikkonen nor Alonso have any chance of beating him in the championship. He will start ahead of them in almost every race and Red Bull's race pace is excellent now (particularly on the new tyres). His car is better than both of them and he is driving better than both of them.

I voted Hamilton because I believe he is the only joker in the pack, i.e. he is the only contender who can regularly start ahead of Vettel. If Mercedes can get their race pace to the same level as Red Bull then Hamilton has a chance of closing the gap and making it interesting going into the run in.

I don't see Hamilton as Vettel's biggest rival for the WDC. I now see him as Vettel's only rival. I'm sure Raikkonen and Alonso will continue to be consistent, score points and talk the talk; there's every chance one or both will finish ahead of Hamilton in the championship. But Hamilton is the only one of the three who MAY have the car to go on the necessary run.

Edited by Juggles, 29 July 2013 - 15:35.

[bub]

Difficult to say really. You can never count Alonso/Ferrari out. Lotus has great race pace, Grosjean proved it has decent qualifying potential also and Kimi is an incredibly consistent point scorer. Mercedes could sort out their tyre deg issues. I'm going with Hamilton because it looks a little more likely to me that Merc might have sorted out it's tyre issues than Lotus being able to keep up development or Ferrari being able to improve as much as they need to but we shall see.

It is unlikely anyone will actually beat Vettel to the WDC but he built up his current lead without a huge car advantage and non point scoring races can happen to anyone at anytime so....

Edited by bub, 29 July 2013 - 16:02.

[Silvercheese]

Quite interesting now after 2 months.

[Exb]

It is interesting, especially as if I had to name a car to beat the Red Bull in the next race I would still go for Lotus or Mercedes.

[7MGTEsup]

The alternator.

[DampMongoose]

The Scrutineering team.

[Zava]

The alternator.

 

that is sooo last year...   

this year I'd say either his gearbox, or mr. Minardi, with that amazing debunking story. 

[windy1603]

Himself when he keeps wanted fastest lap all the time and Rocky has to tell him his car has some imaginary fault

[MikeV1987]

None as long as everyone keeps taking points off each other.

[Fontainebleau]

Quite interesting now after 2 months.

Yep - good find!

[fabr68]

The podium ceremony crowd

[Raven8]

God

[joshb]

you've gotta give it to the British media. 1 win at possibly Hamilton's best track is all it took for them to be lauding him as the title contender and how he was going to make it an interesting finale, despite 5 years of stats saying Vettel's results improve in the final third of the year...

 

low and behold, Seb wins at Spa and F1 is boring

 

Cheerio

[eronrules]

 Boo Brigade 

 

 

to Korea ... and beyond

Edited by eronrules, 30 September 2013 - 17:47.

[sennafan24]

you've gotta give it to the British media. 1 win at possibly Hamilton's best track is all it took for them to be lauding him as the title contender and how he was going to make it an interesting finale, despite 5 years of stats saying Vettel's results improve in the final third of the year...

 

low and behold, Seb wins at Spa and F1 is boring

 

Cheerio

It was not really driver performance that was the key to that perception though.

 

Merc surprised everyone at that track by not having its tyres wear to a excessive rate, everyone was shocked with how Merc performed that weekend. It did look like the Mercedes had become the best car, but it was flash in the pan, as the Merc fell back again in the second half.

 

This is not to say Vettel has not been the best driver this year, but the comparison you are giving is explained by team performance mainly, and nothing to do with driver performance.

 

To answer the question, I would say Alonso at this stage. But he would need 3 DNF's from Seb to stand a chance, which is highly unlikely.

Edited by sennafan24, 30 September 2013 - 17:57.

[rijole1]

Mechanical failures.

Agree.

 

Red Bull car seems so strong right now, as do Vettel - we need more mysterical gearbox issues which force Seb drive in 40 km/h

And his competitors seem to have given up already.

Can't see so much fighting spirit anymore this year - not in Alonso, not in Hamilton or in Kimi

Everyone seems to be waiting for next year.

Maybe they are right, but it's a bit boring.

If, a big IF, Seb gets one bad gearbox and zero points - and one of guys wins next two races, the game is on...

[sopa]

None as long as everyone keeps taking points off each other.

Actually Alonso finishes second behind Vettel all the time.

 

Poll shows, how underrated Alonso-Ferrari was. Just because they were fifth in Hungary, their worst track, doesn't mean they can't get on podium in most races. However, Lotus' ability to keep performing at the end of the year was always suspect. As is Mercedes'.