It seems unfair, but it’s difficult not to look for answers as to why it’s not working out for Lewis. This time it took an extra turn for the worse; after the clash with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa during the race, Massa was seen to grab Hamilton by the shoulder rather aggressively, sarcastically saying ‘good job, well done’. He also said Lewis wouldn’t win many more championships driving like that. It showed how much pressure Massa is under but Lewis didn’t react, pretty much walking away from any more interviews not willing to comment on such a harsh reaction to his driving.
All drivers make mistakes and have bad runs of form, but with every incident Hamilton seems to attract the stewards. It was arguable whether he deserved his penalty in Singapore, like on other occasions this year, but the fact is he put himself in a position where he might get one and with his aggressive profile it’s understandable that the stewards will focus on him.
It’s a downward spiral which can result in a persecution complex; the sport it seems is out to get him with penalties, criticism from the media and other drivers…
Hamilton’s current pain is partly from his own making; amongst other reasons he is frustrated due to the team making errors (another one in Singapore qualifying), failing to provide him with a championship winning car for the third year in a row causing him to over drive, but perhaps one of the most significant things is he is now getting regularly beaten by Button.
McLaren was his team, Lewis has grown up with them but now Button looks to be becoming the dominant personality in the team. Lewis may out qualify him more often than not, but Jenson is getting the better race results later in the season.
I believe that Button’s presence and his well-liked relaxed demeanour within the team and his current consistency on the track is one of the causes for Lewis Hamilton’s wobbles this year.
Now I would never say that Jenson is quicker than Hamilton, because generally he’s not. Where Jenson comes into his own is the race, when the car is working to his liking, his calm decision making and his clean over takes make him unbeatable on his day, and these days are becoming more regular as he tunes the car towards him.
If Button maintains his current 17 point lead over Hamilton, it’ll be the first time that Lewis has been bested by a team mate since he entered Formula 1. Not even Fernando Alonso could beat Lewis, but Button has shaken him, because Button is far better than Lewis or perhaps anyone else really believed.
He’s firmly established himself within McLaren now, and in their current contract talks, I wouldn’t be surprised if the team give him exactly what he wants. Team boss Martin Whitmarsh has nothing but praise for Button right now.
However, when interviewed about Lewis’ incidents he seems to be becoming increasingly defensive. There’s only so many times you can excuse a driver an incident by saying they’re a racer and entertaining before you’ll begin to question your own words.
Whitmarsh even requested for the ‘real Lewis Hamilton’ to turn up at Singapore after his less than usual aggression at Monza. I begin to think this is just a general request across the board as the real Lewis Hamilton has failed to turn up almost all year. Whitmarsh later conceded that ‘Undeniably, this year has not been a good one for Lewis Hamilton…We’ll have conversations with Lewis. But those we will have in private’. Although he let it be known that Lewis still has ‘plenty of love from the team’.
Lewis’ support for McLaren though is sometimes lacking. Button’s attitude comes across better, criticising the team in a constructive way, whereas Lewis has sometimes come across as dismissive and abrupt when talking about some of the team’s failings in BBC interviews. Although it should be said he praises them just as much when things go right, but it’s surely when things are bad that people need to be supported the most?
However, to play devil’s advocate slightly, McLaren haven’t provided him with a winning car, seem to make basic errors which have hampered Hamilton, and Button too. It’s little wonder that Lewis is frustrated by this, and he has warned them that he can’t wait forever, although with Vettel and Alonso the team leaders at Red Bull and Ferrari does he even have anywhere else to go?
Support has also been raised as an issue in some of the media, Jenson has a firm core of people in his corner. Lewis meanwhile sacked his father as manager last year, and only at the beginning of 2011 announced a deal with XIX Entertainment management run by Simon Fuller of Spice Girls fame who have David Beckham on the books, and look to exploit brand opportunities for the client.
On the BBC website, Lewis’ father Anthony Hamilton has said ‘his management need to do more’. Saying that most other drivers will have their management team with them at the races, whereas Lewis chooses if he needs any management to be present, something he is meant to be happy with.
Lewis Hamilton is more than capable of sweeping away the distractions and producing an outstanding drive like we saw in China and Germany this year. He could win in Japan and it’ll be like nothing has happened, but can he keep it going or will he lose focus again at the next race if things don’t work out?
If current positions in the championship remain between the McLaren drivers, let’s see how Lewis responds next year, especially if the car is a title challenger. Then I’m sure we’ll see him back on form, today’s current battles could be nothing more than frustration at not having the opportunity to regularly battle Vettel.
Hamilton knows he’s made to win it’s what he’s done all his life. Only he really knows what’s going on in his head now but he can dominate Formula 1, although Button won’t let any edge he’s got now slip easily, it's not just Lewis' team anymore.
All photo's from autosport.com
All photo's from autosport.com
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