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 modify groups? – Gareth
To begin with, I am unsure the query has a completely correct premise. It is true that each Hamilton and Sainz had barely sticky first halves of the season, in several methods, and that they’re now faring significantly better.
Sainz and Alex Albon do now look very even. Nonetheless, it is not so clear that, in Hamilton’s case, he’s but the “equal” of Leclerc – or not constantly, anyway.
Hamilton has not overwhelmed Leclerc fairly often in any respect this yr, both in qualifying or race.
He’s now a lot nearer than he was. He’s repeatedly qualifying inside just a few hundredths of a second of Leclerc, however in qualifying it is 4-2 to Leclerc because the summer time break.
This final weekend in Austin, on considered 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 one of the best technique. Regardless, over the season, and even now, it is laborious to argue that on stability Leclerc has not been the higher Ferrari driver this yr.
Each Hamilton and Sainz have talked about how tough it’s to modify groups, and we have now 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 yr will go well with him; he has by no means actually loved these venturi automobiles.
There’s a lot for a driver to get their head round once they change groups, as Hamilton has defined many instances this yr. However not all battle on this approach.
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 think most in F1 would count on not.
