everyone has been saying what a fantastic driver vettel is and hows hes the best, but how much was down to the amazing car he had? Would hamilton be faster if he was in that same car?

I think so

Hamilton, will not even have a top ride after this season if he fails as spectacularly as he did last year.

Is Paul Di Resta better than Hamilton or Vettel?

Quite possible based on times when in equal cars.

Mr Hamilton's head has not been in the right palce for most of last season. His reactions are top notch but if he cannot get his head together this year it will probably be his last in a top car as others will take his place though I have heard a rumour he will take Mark Webber's place if he does well enough.

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Mirror- By Byron Young Comments 10 Feb 2012 17:54 Hamilton's McLaren test ends on a low note

Former world champion bumped from the top of the timing charts in Jerez

Both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have said it is crucial to their title hopes they make a competitive start to a season a little over a month away. Failing to do that has cost them dearly for the last three years.

Button insisted after the first day’s testing Tuesday that this year’s car was far better than the one that started last season. He failed to get within a second and half of the front-runners pace. Although Hamilton halved the difference as McLaren’s knowledge of their car increased the gap remains at seven-tenths of a second which is vast in F1 terms. But its long been the case that McLaren are one of the few teams that stick to their testing programme, regardless of the poor publicity that materialises from their times, rather than indulge in the grandstanding used elsewhere.

Edited 12 February, 201214 yr by lol

Hamilton, will not even have a top ride after this season if he fails as spectacularly as he did last year.

The problem Hamilton and Button had again last season was that the car was not competitive early enough and they were always playing catch up to Red Bull. Hamilton is aggresive and wants to win and that certainly led to afew incidents, but I would hardly call it a spectacular failure.

Winners of the 19 races last season:

Vettel 11

Hamilton 3

Button 3

Alonso 1

Webber 1

so as you have all pointed out hamilton was not in the right frame of mind, did not have the performance in his car and still managed to win 3 races. The same as his team mate button so if that was a bad season i cant wait to see him have another good season in a good car.

At the current time Vettel.

Maybe when Lewis matures some more there's a point to comparing them but currently there's no comparison.

i have had a substantial bet on lewis being champion this year.

Been watching Lewis's first season and it's incredible how good he was even then. Ron had developed him from a young age to be the fittest and smartest on the grid. If it wasn't for the few mistakes he did make and reliability he would have won the championship that year. There's no doubt he's a racer but now he needs to just focus on the racing. If Mclaren build a good car this year I see Button challenging for WDC more than Hamilton.

Agreed Vettel is a great driver and deserves his titles. However his titles have come by him having a car which can get him to the front from the very beginning. Hamilton is probably the better racer and in the same situation, with Hamiltons head in the right place I would go for him to be victorious.

and the way hamilton has been talking this season he definatley seems in the right place and the new mclaren is looking good in testing. should be a close season

But apparently he has ben hooking up with Nicole Shirt-Slinger again so maybe his head might be wondering?

Hope Paul D has a good season and let hope for some suprises as I get in to NASCAR and the bike racing then F1 just looks as dull as watch scalectrix by comparison.

Edited 29 February, 201214 yr by lol

On the right day, if Hamilton's head is in the right place, then he would win. Given his raw talent that has at times come out but it would be a close race.

Vettel is a superior driver hands down, look at Webber could not touch Vettel and both were in same car.

Hamilton needs to grow up and needs to realise to score points you have to finish a race, not bump into Massa.

My money would be on Vettel or Button for this years title.

why does everybody think button will beat hamilton! everyone has said what a great year he has had and how terrible hamilton has been and he can still only manage the same wins :think: if hamilton is back on form and has the car from the start the there is noone that will beat him

F1 just looks as dull as watch scalectrix by comparison.

Hang on a minute, that's not fair!

Scalectrix is way more exciting.

It's simple button is more consistent.

He can finish a race, manage tires and not loose his cool if something don't go his way.

yes for 1 season. hamilton has had 1 bad season which every driver has and everyone is moaning about him. he has done alot better things than he has worse. Oh and when vettel and hamilton raced before in the same cars it was hamilton who came out on top winning 15 of the 20 races!

Hamilton just needs to grow up. It's not just last season if he does not get his own way he sulks.

Give him a couple of years and he will be a very accomplished driver.

This year is between Button and Vettel....would like to see Button win it again

But what if Alonso had a similar car? Personally, I can't stand the arrogant so & so but he's surely just as good as Hamilton? Button is super smooth but often seems to just let the wins come to him. Which doesn't always work, when he's aggressive & the car is favouring the track he's as good as Vettel & Hamilton & Alonso, but it doesn't happen often enough. Vettel is the most consistent of the top talent, so give him a great car & he'll win, barring incidents out of his control.

Who cares? Of the current and former champions presently competing, Michael Schumacher is the only one who has ever won the title without having the best car (and tyres from when we had a choice of suppliers) under him.

well when hamilton won the championship i dont think he really had the best car. he just made it look like he did with his agressive driving style and the fact he could make a pass where people thought it was impossible.

I didn't vote, I hate both.

This years F1 winner will be driving an Adrian Newey designed car, as with all the previous years.

Who cares? Of the current and former champions presently competing, Michael Schumacher is the only one who has ever won the title without having the best car (and tyres from when we had a choice of suppliers) under him.

Button did not have the best car when he won, and the Benetton was the best with williams when Schumi won, and they had ( Benetton, ) some grey areas on the car which were outlawed,( ilegal traction control) and Senna was killed at Imola, and he took out Damon, but that is another story.It would be good out of season to see all the Drivers in a one make race ( sport relief?) just to see if it is driver/team/ or car

Anyone feel like trying to address my point with evidence from the pertinant championship year(s) rather than an opinion, or "evidence" from other year(s)?

In Schumi's case you'd have to prove that he had the best car no less than 7 times rather than make a potentially libelous claim about one year and chuck in a straw man.

As for the "one make" argument, try looking at karting mags and the Race of Champions.