Hamilton - can he bring the 2008 Championship back home or has he lost it all?

Question

8 races down, 10 to go. It's been a shaky season for Hamilton (not that I blame him, since he's only been in F1 for 15 months and he still has a lot to learn - but I digress).

Could he still bring it home?

The current stats:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Formula_One_season#Drivers

BTW: No rants please - especially Hamilton ones. This is not what this question is about.

Answer 1

I have to admit that I think Hamilton's chances of winning the title are slipping away. Even just looking at the stats makes it look like he will not win it (not that they may represent the following races).

I don't really know who will win the title, but I think it may be someone in a red car. Mathematically it is still possible, but I doubt it.

Assuming Massa, Kimi, Kubica keep on the way they are going and are regularly racing in the top 4 (is there any reason to doubt that one?) then, by my reckoning Hamilton would need to win 7 races and 3 second places to comfortably win the title. Not impossible, but I don't think it will be done.

Of course, loads can happen in a race, there are other drivers to consider, too. But I cannot see it being Hamilton's year. Somehow I can see Massa win the title.

Answer 2

i think he's lost it, i think he was a 1 season wonder

Answer 3

Until it is mathematically impossible, he will keep doing his best to bring home the title, as will the other 20 drivers.

Answer 4

The odds were stacked against Lewis Hamilton for the French GP, and being mid-season, it was important for him to score points.

It wasn't just the tenth-place penalty which handicapped him, but the fact that the Ferrraris were much better suited to this circuit, with their longer wheelbase and greater stability.

For the first time, I found myself criticising Lewis Hamilton, because he was pushing too hard and over-driving the car, to the point that he was visibly losing out on the track. There was absolutely no-cance of him being able to win the race; especially in a car which was at a disadvantage on the day at that particular circuit.

As people have said before, it isn't speed which wins a championship; it is consistency.  

The championship certainly isn't lost to Lewis Hamilton at this stage, but he has an uphill battle until the end of the season. .

Answer 5

He had a great race today - - I don't understand why people think he didn't.  When he had an open track he was consistently the quickest guy out there and he passed - what - 14 drivers, some of them more than once including two blistering passes on Fred Alonso who wasn't exactly hanging around.  

Should he have been penalized for the Vettel move?  I'd say no but I can see the argument that the pass may not have been complete.  That cost him perhaps 40 seconds when you factor in the whole pit lane drive through as well as getting stuck behind slower cars for 20 laps.  Might have come 2nd, might have been 3rd.  There'd have been different comments on these boards if that had happened.

Answer 6

If he don't start to keep his head down and focus on the job, he's in for a tough season

McLaren are clearly struggling, they do not "breeze through" nor was he a legendary driver today starting from the back

Attitude counts too in making a champion.

Alonso use to say "this is the maximum we can do" when he doesn't win a race. He acknowledge that his car is slow when he is.

So, its all up to Hamilton.

Though McLaren too has alot of work to do, but they have been there a thousand times they should know what to do.

Answer 7

He still stands a chance. It is up to him what to do. He has to keep his cool or he will very easily lose it. He tends to let the pressure get to him. If he can overcome that, he'll have a better chance at winning the title.

There are still 10 races to go, all is not lost yet. Same rule applies to other drivers as well

Answer 8

still a huge probability, a lot of race to go! Remember last season that Kimi win the championship at the very last race.

Answer 9

Its still possible, only 10Pt's behind but he must be more methodical and less erratic. Silverstone will be difficult for Mclaren after Ferrari's pace at France ( similar tracks), must try to get 3rd place.

Answer 10

Back home?  He never won it last year and Mclaren hasn't won it since 1999.  The only homes the F1 world titles has had recently are Ferrari and Renault.

He can still win it.  Massa is inconsistent.  Raikkonen looks out of it at times and generally overrated IMO.  Both the Ferraris have thrown away points this year in a faster car.

If Schumi or Alain Prost was driving this Ferrari, no way Hamilton would have a chance.  Since the drivers are Massa and Raikkonen, Hamilton has a chance.

Answer 11

i doubt it unless kimi and massa have problems at every race.....

Answer 12

I think that Hamilton will push until it's impossible. But at the minute i actualyl think Kubica has more of a chance due to consistency.

Kimi or Massa favourites after the 1-2 in Mangy-cours

Answer 13

Today was not one of his best days.

But if you look at Raikonen and he's the reigning world champion he's messed up on at least two occasions (Adelaide and Monaco), big time.

Everybody has had his share of trouble and he's not far off Massa and Raikonen in the standings.

In terms of pure speed he's shown the McLaren to be verycompetitive in Montreal and Monaco and not too far off in France.

Looking at Kovalainen's performances in that McLaren it appears Hamilton has made the car look faster than it actually is compared to the Ferraris but somehow he doesn't seem to get enough credit for that.

It's all down to expectations.

I think the championship is difficult but certainly not out of reach, too many troubled races and we still haven't got a clear picture as to whether he can really take the fight to Ferrari.

Look at where BMW found themselves in the standings, it's obvious that consistency and not speed is what paid off in the first half of the season, now we'll start to get a clearer picture.

Answer 14

if he doesn't start focusing and stop being stupid maybe but if he carries on i think it will be massa winning with rikionen behind him and Hamilton would have finished 4th and mclaren 3rd in constructor

Answer 15

Of course he can...the season hasn't ended yet...McLaren has already lost the Championship, but Lewis can win the Championship this year...

Answer 16

I hope he can do it. However, the ferraris and BMWs are looking particuarly strong. Plus the stewards seem to have something against him. I'm just waiting for them to give him a drive through penalty for turning up...

Answer 17

I hope he does win it this year, it is certainly possible, ( and i am a big Kimi fan so this this is hard for me to say !!! )

Answer 18

I dont think he can

Answer 19

i wouldnt say no, but he would have to work incredibly hard for the title!

Answer 20

I agree with what you said - ".....he has LOST IT ALL".

Dont call this a rant. I just repeated what you said !

Answer 21

Whoever says Lewis Hamilton has lost it a mere 15 months into his formula one career is just stupid.He is young and will learn from his mistakes and become a better driver.He will not win the championship this year simply because the Ferrari's are faster.You could put Jesus Christ in that Mclaren and he still wouldn't be able to beat the Ferrari's

Answer 22

He is an unlucky loser. He must think of races, not of girls, Dannii Minogue or Pussycat Dolls. Be serious, men!!!

Answer 23

basically HAMILTON  has little or no chance , the FIA will see to that , the overtaking manoeuvre at magny was actually completed prior to but Hamilton is black ok I am white and Scottish BUT the FIA is a racist led organisation led by MAX MOSLEY a  racist n**i figure supported by the FIA what do you expect from them