Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: ~misfit~ <shaun.at.pukekohe@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: rec.autos.sport.f1
Subject: Re: Cullen and Hamilton re-join forces.
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:43:12 +1300
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
Lines: 82
Message-ID: <vmunnj$1sqh8$1@dont-email.me>
References: <vmpefc$gmaq$1@dont-email.me> <_2fkP.37667$Jua7.4066@fx15.ams4>
 <5be3a5ab05bob@sick-of-spam.invalid> <vmt377$1ihj6$1@dont-email.me>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Injection-Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2025 01:43:33 +0100 (CET)
Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="655d086d2b1f4c084c7bd7a92697f754";
	logging-data="1993256"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org";	posting-account="U2FsdGVkX1+QCW7CDLVFgD5NpwBbE0fevxvf5BPZibk="
User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird
Cancel-Lock: sha1:/xkpn4/TYH63P6hrKdl8d7rNAm0=
In-Reply-To: <vmt377$1ihj6$1@dont-email.me>
Content-Language: en-US

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.