A DIFFERENT LEWIS HAMILTON?

Seven races into the 2018 F1 season and it looks as if the championship fight is going to continue for much of this season. Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have shared the race wins between them and the momentum is changing hands every week. The Drivers' Championship is just as close. A mere one point separates Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton with others not too far behind. Hamilton is right in the mix to win a fifth world title, however many would suggest a lot of his performances this season have fallen short of his lofty expectations. If so, how is he remaining in contention?

There isn't one simple answer to that question as many factors have come into play. I'm sure many Hamilton-haters are already smashing out the word 'LUCK!' on their keyboards, but for once they'd be correct to an extent. Hamilton has undoubtedly received his fair share of luck this season. A dramatic puncture to teammate Bottas in Azerbaijan gifted Hamilton the win and he benefitted from retirements in Bahrain too. There is however a crossover point. A crossover point where luck becomes opportunism. Throughout the season, there have been many crucial events that have impacted how the top 5 or 6 have finished (e.g the events after the safety cars in China and Azerbaijan), but Hamilton has not only kept clear of these events, he's prospered from them.

I believe we are starting to see a very different Lewis Hamilton. I'm not suggesting his supreme pace has gone and will never return but when it's not there it seems as if he can draw on a level of 'racing wisdom' that hasn't always been there. Ever since he debuted in 2007, the pace was always there, but there were times it wasn't supported by a sufficient amount of experience and maturity. It's probably the reason he didn't win the championship in 2007 and had a mistake-ridden 2011. Hamilton is now in a different stage of his career where there are only two drivers more experienced than him, and in a positive manner, it's beginning to show.

Recently, I've seen plenty of opinions that Valtteri Bottas has been quicker than Lewis Hamilton. I think it's been close, but I agree. Of the seven weekends, Bottas has arguably been quicker than his teammate at four of them. Bottas definitely had the advantage at Bahrain and China, he would have won Azerbaijan if not for the puncture and he was even better than Hamilton in Canada - one of his best circuits. What's keeping Hamilton in front is his consistency and ability to limit damage. Take Monaco as an example, the car was third best all weekend long, yet Hamilton still found the podium. He suffered a grid penalty in Bahrain and still found the podium. Even races such as China and Canada where Hamilton has been at his worst, he still found a way into the top 5.

We're still a long way from the championship being decided and predicting a winner cannot be done with much confidence, but you would be a fool for thinking that Hamilton won't be in contention.