It appears to me that each Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz have now confirmed themselves to be the equal of their team-mates of their first season at their groups. Do you assume we downplay how tough it’s to change groups? – Gareth
Initially, I am undecided the query has a wholly correct premise. It is true that each Hamilton and Sainz had barely sticky first halves of the season, in numerous methods, and that they’re now faring significantly better.
Sainz and Alex Albon do now look very even. Nonetheless, it isn’t so clear that, in Hamilton’s case, he’s but the “equal” of Leclerc – or not constantly, anyway.
Hamilton has not crushed Leclerc fairly often in any respect this 12 months, both in qualifying or race.
He’s now a lot nearer than he was. He’s usually qualifying inside a couple of hundredths of a second of Leclerc, however in qualifying it is 4-2 to Leclerc because the summer season break.
This final weekend in Austin, on certainly one of Hamilton’s favorite circuits, he was a second behind Leclerc when the Monegasque made his pit cease, and misplaced 13 seconds over the remainder of the race.
In hindsight, Leclerc was on the very best technique. Regardless, over the season, and even now, it is onerous to argue that on stability Leclerc has not been the higher Ferrari driver this 12 months.
Each Hamilton and Sainz have talked about how tough it’s to change groups, and we’ve got to take them at their phrase.
Hamilton wouldn’t say even now that he was absolutely tailored to Ferrari – and he’s hoping the brand new guidelines subsequent 12 months will go well with him; he has by no means actually loved these venturi vehicles.
There’s a lot for a driver to get their head round once they change groups, as Hamilton has defined many instances this 12 months. However not all battle on this means.
Alonso, for instance, was on it from the beginning of the 2023 season when he moved to Aston Martin. And would Verstappen battle if he switched groups? I believe most in F1 would anticipate not.
