It's hard to gauge how much influence on results is car vs driver, so gauging performance vs your team mate often gives a clearer picture of how good a driver really is vs results against others. A few examples...
Alonso vs Hamilton, neck and neck. Alonso vs everyone else, ownage. Makes sense, those 2 guys are top tier. Hints of greatness? Absolutely, for both. And their results back that.
Hamilton vs Button, close but Hamilton gets it. Same for Hamilton vs Rosberg. Says a lot about Rosberg and Button, they're very good to hang with Hamilton but lacking x-factor. Says that Jenson will have his moments against Alonso probably. Hints of greatness for Hamilton? Absolutely, dispatched 2 top drivers.
Button vs Perez and Magnussen, Jenson gets them no probs. This again tells you how good Jenson is i.e. very good. Did well against Hamilton too. Hints of greatness? Certainly some, I think 1 world title is deserved and accurate.
Rosberg vs Webber and Schumacher. Shown up by Webber and clearly beat a faded Schumacher. Hints of greatness? You'd be undecided, and rightly so especially after this season. Results are following the pattern.
Seb vs Webber. Close in 2010 then Vettel runs away with it. Hints of greatness? On results sure, and if you overrate Webber, even more so.
Seb vs Ricciardo..... err hang on what's going on? This is a black mark against Seb no doubt. He's only been tested against Webber, a good driver but no world beater and on the decline.
Hints of greatness? Yes, for Ricciardo.
When tested against a young quick aggressive guy Seb just got shown up big time.
Edited by DeVol, 25 November 2014 - 08:13.