Re: Cullen and Hamilton re-join forces.

On 23/01/2025 10:47 pm, Mark wrote:

Bob Latham <bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> wrote:

In article <_2fkP.37667$Jua7.4066@fx15.ams4>,
   Eric <nawww@afraidnot.org> wrote:
>

I agree - I hope this and the fresh start at Ferrari will help
Hamilton get to #8.

>
Yes indeed. I have been a lewis fan since he started in F1 simply
because he's a Brit and one of the very best of all time. However,
I've also had a long term dislike of Ferrari, it was top of my
dislike list for years but Red Bull now easily take that prize. I had
decided to stay a Merc fan but I admit I'm torn because I do think
Lewis is owed one for the 2021 cheating so I do hope it comes
together for him.

I agree with this. Part of the reason that Ferrari have become less dis-likeable for me has been Fred. Not only the man himself but the changes he's bought. The team is more relatable now (and less implacable - which was a reasonable trait for a winning team but more of am impediment to an also-ran).

Seeing the photos of Lewis in red and driving the '23 car made me
realize just how much I'm itching for testing to start.

>
Oh yes.
>

I'm sure hoping that my Williams can pull something out of the hat
for this year.

>
That would be nice to see and for me I do like Toto so hope Merc cam
solve their issues.

 I think Hamilton deserved 2021. There are plenty of individual issues
throughout the season that both sides will argue about, but it was very
well fought. The final race, though, was shockingly handled and there is
no question to any fair-minded person that the decision to deviate from
normal rules (in at least one case) and precedent (in at least one
other) combined to make Hamilton's win impossible. That's not fair.
 BUT...time gives no favours out. Hamilton - like any human - is subject
to the waning of fitness, reaction-time and so on. He has the benefit of
some fantastic experience which can tip the scales back the other way,
but you need to both be at the top end of the driver-skill equation
_and_ have a car that's the best or very close to the best in the field.

I will add a third variable that IMO is just as important as the other two; Head-space. A driver needs to feel confident and have a nurturing and positive 'crew'. That's why I think the return of Angela Cullen might make a significant difference.

He can hope he's given a car that's there or thereabouts. I think he can
put in a top-rate performance but I doubt that he's physically able to
deliver even on where he was in 2021 (let alone earlier). So, if he gets
the best car and/or the cream of the other drivers have inferior cars,
he has a chance.
 But it's chance. Luck plays a part. Weather, other drivers driving into
him (or others), strange on-track incidents of other kinds all play a
part. That might benefit him or it might disadvantage him.
 It should be an interesting season but, if I had to lay real money down,
I wouldn't risk it on Hamilton. Which is not to say he won't *get* title
#8, but the past few years where the RB car dominated made that much
harder.

I'd put money on Lawson being in the top 5 in the DWC - maybe even in the top 3 (depending on the odds).

We're talking about an eighth title, but the history is littered with
drivers who lost out on even a single title because they were unlucky or
shared the racetrace with a great and, under other circumstances, they
would have been champions.
 And that's motor-racing.

Indeed.
--
Shaun.
"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification in the DSM"
David Melville.