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Mid-Term Team-mates Report
Well-into the final break of the 2010 season, the teammate battles are raging like ever before. There's been controversy, dominance and unexpected surprises. Community member TH has taken the time to analyse, in an impartial manner, the scorecard between each teammate.
Red Bull Racing
Drivers: Sebastian Vettel vs. Mark Webber
Better performer so-far: Mark Webber
The 2010 Championship has been a series of ups and downs for the Red Bull Racing squad. Starting out with the quickest vehicle over one lap, Red Bull has, through one way or another, managed to turn their dream into a nightmare. With Sebastian Vettel taking seven poles to his teammate’s four, the German has failed time-after-time to turn the qualifying performance into race success. Admittedly reliability was not on his side early in the season, Vettel’s consistency (or lack thereof) has been criticised by various Formula One pundits. With Mark Webber delivering results that few had thought capable of the Australian, Vettel’s 2010 season thus-far almost makes him comparable as a Barrichello to a Michael. Four wins to his teammate’s two, his overwhelmingly diplomatic attitude during the low points of the season (see Turkish Grand Prix, 2010) and his ability to grow an outstanding amount of stubble in the space of a 56-lap race crown Mark Webber as the victor over the pair.
McLaren
Drivers: Jenson Button vs. Lewis Hamilton
Better performer so-far: Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton’s driving as of late has shown a major improvement in the maturity of the mentality of the Brit. Where Button has looked occasionally out-of-touch with the MP4-25, Hamilton’s raw ability to get into the vehicle and put in the laps that are needed has shown that Hamilton is looking to be the “most complete” driver on the Formula One grid. Button’s two wins, whilst credited, were undoubtedly aided by luck. The tyre decision in Melbourne and the front runners choosing a poor strategy early-on in the race, Button’s wins have been relatively-unexciting and seemingly “gifted” to the reigning World Champion. Hamilton’s performances in Canada and Turkey – most notably Turkey – have shown skill that hasn’t been witnessed by viewers for many, many years. His ability to stay in touch with the much-superior Red Bulls has proved that, as of the mid-year break, Hamilton has been the superior driver of the McLaren pair.
Scuderia Ferrari
Drivers: Felipe Massa vs. Fernando Alonso
Better performer so-far: Fernando Alonso
Well, if you wanted to look somewhere other than Red Bull for intra-team controversy, look no further than the Scuderia. Alonso’s arrival signalled his reign over the Ferrari team. Massa, the one-time World Drivers’ Championship hopeful, was to become an immediate #2 to the Spaniard and Ferrari would be a united force once again. Similar to a certain Eastern political ideology in that it’s all good in theory, in practice the combination doesn’t tend to follow such an easy path. Admittedly, Massa has not been a strong match for Alonso during the season. But the occasional push by the Brazilian to outpace his teammate has resulted in numerous talking-points throughout the 12 races which have passed already. The two most notable, the pit lane entrance incident in China and – of course – the “team orders saga” in Germany. But straight-out, Alonso has been the faster driver on a consistent basis. Whilst the ordering of Massa to move over for Alonso in Germany was criticised by a large proportion of the community (myself included), Alonso’s performance in Hungary – especially compared to Felipe’s – gives more justification to the team’s decision. Based on race-by-race pace, Fernando wins the team battle hands-down.
MercedesGP
Drivers: Michael Schumacher vs. Nico Rosberg
Better performer so-far: Nico Rosberg
Well, I can’t expect many people predicted this outcome when Schumacher was signed to the Mercedes squad in late-2009. After such hype following the accident of Felipe Massa at the Hungarian Grand Prix the previous season, Schumacher’s return was the food of the motorsport media for weeks. The Great Michael Schumacher was returning to Formula One. Rosberg, whilst competent against Nakajima, stood little chance against the 7-time World Drivers Champion, the owner of just-about every record there is to be held by a driver. In reality, the Schumacher of old has left the world. What we’re left with is a driver many hope will do better in the next race, but most know it’s unlikely to happen. On the other hand, Rosberg has flourished in only his second team since joining the Formula One grid in 2006. With 94 points to his teammate’s mere 38, the decision to place Rosberg ahead of Schumacher isn’t much of a surprise.
RenaultF1
Drivers: Robert Kubica vs. Vitaly Petrov
Better performer so-far: Robert Kubica
A similar case to that of Mercedes: one driver is succeeding, the other suffering. In reality, the Pole was always the odds-on favourite to win the intra-team battle. Petrov’s pre-Formula One record is, put bluntly, less-than-impressive. Meanwhile, Kubica’s immense consistency has shown naysayers why many have touted him as a future World Champion. Kubica’s notable lead over his teammate in the standings further justifies him as being the #1 in the team. Giving credit to Vitaly, however, the final two races before the Summer break have shown an impressive improvement. The competition between these two is not over yet.
Force India
Drivers: Adrian Sutil vs. Vitantonio Liuzzi
Better performer so-far: Adrian Sutil
Prior to the beginning of the season, the battle between Sutil and Liuzzi was arguably one of the hardest to predict. Liuzzi’s replacement of Fisichella at the Italian Grand Prix in 2009 resulted in an immense show of potential at his home circuit. Whilst being behind Sutil, the Italian’s return to the grid had shown great promise for the driver’s future. And, whilst he was outshone during the rest of the season, Liuzzi’s chance at a full season with the Force India squad gave rise to the hope that he would show a much more improved, and much more consistent, driver within himself. In reality, teammate Sutil’s consistency and speed has overwhelmed the now-aging Italian. Yet another case of one driver having an impressive points lead over his teammate, Sutil takes the title between the two going into the Summer break. As for Sutil’s future, the occasional race in which he is beaten by Liuzzi is concerning, however.
WilliamsF1
Drivers: Rubens Barrichello vs. Nico Hulkenberg
Better performer so-far: Rubens Barrichello
With Hulkenberg winning almost every series he’s entered in, most viewers expected this competition to be much closer. Touted as the “next Schumacher” (Who isn’t these days?), Hulkenberg’s record against Barrichello falls short of what was promised by his record. Barrichello’s maturity and determination has completely outclassed that of his rookie teammate. Understandably, Hulkenberg is expected to mature with time. Now 2/3 of the way through the 2010 season, it’s time to step up his game. Barrichello is no slouch, but to be being beaten in a way that he is, Hulkenberg quickly needs to show that Formula One grid hasn’t once-again drafted in a new wave of uncompetitive rookies. Like Petrov, the German experienced a large boost in performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix. But to tip Rubens off of his mantle, Nico will need a lot more in the remainder of the year.
BMW Sauber
Drivers: Pedro de la Rosa vs. Kamui Kobayashi
Better performer so-far: Kamui Kobayashi
Off the back of his late-2009 performances with Toyota Racing, Kobayashi was a hands-down favourite to take the lead of the team. Unlike some of the “higher” teams’ number one drivers, Kobayashi has done just that. A poor start to the 2010 season, mainly due to first-lap incidents and reliability woes, suggested Kobayashi’s 2009 success was largely down to the vehicle. Since Sauber has worked out its teething issues, however, the young Japanese driver has thrived. Brilliant first lap performances, daring overtaking and consistency have been accurate descriptions of Kamui’s 2010 campaign. De la Rosa, whilst getting the occasional points, is regularly being put to shame by his teammate. Based on on-track constancy, pace and impressiveness, Kamui takes it hands down.
Scuderia Toro Rosso
Drivers: Sebastian Buemi vs. Jaime Alguersuari
Better performer so-far: Sebastian Buemi
Another case of experience being the overriding factor, without the development aid of the Red Bull team, the STR5’s competitiveness hasn’t improved. Alguersuari’s move into Formula One was met with cries of “inexperienced”, “unprepared” and – occasionally – he was simply said to be “too young”. None the less, Franz Tost decided to keep him in for 2011, arguing that this was the year in which he was to show his true potential. Overall, however, the Spaniard has been regularly beaten by his Swiss teammate. Although it remains a close battle between the two, Jaime as been convincingly beaten by his teammate in all but one of the last six-consecutive races. With seven races remaining in the season, the battle between these two is still far from over.
Lotus
Drivers: Jarno Trulli vs. Heikki Kovalainen
Better performer so-far: Heikki Kovalainen
Arguably two of the least-rated drivers in Formula One, the pairing of Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen didn’t make it easy to pick who’d come out on top. Trulli’s got qualifying, Heikki’s got slow-and-steady. Neither driver has had a particularly-successful career. The pairing is, on paper, one of little potential. Lotus’ decision to take experience over a rookie has, however, been a wise one. Being “best of the new teams”, their distinction has been earned through reliability and consistent results. Trulli’s consistency to put the car a regular 15th , 16th and 17th positions, whilst impressive for the team, has been overshadowed by his teammate’s ability to bring the car to the line in 13th and 14th (the latter on two separate occasions). He’s been signed until the end of 2012, but one has to wonder: when will Trulli finally call it a day?
Hispania Racing Team
Drivers: Bruno Senna vs. Karun Chandhok vs. Sakon Yamamoto
Better performer so far: Karun Chandhok
It’s the team that few take seriously. They didn’t design their car. They can’t afford upgrades. They can hardly afford repairs. But, like all Minardi-esque teams, Hispania Racing Team has a certain charm to it. Something you can’t quite define, yet know they have “it”. With two rookies and an ex-Formula One drop-out, defining the winner of this one simply had to go down to on-paper results. And that man is *drum roll*........ No, no that’s just silly. It’s obviously Karun Chandhok. By bringing the car home more than twice as often as Senna and Yamamoto and netting the Spanish team its 3 best ever results removes any question that he may not have been the better of the three. Senna is quick. There’s no doubt about it. Sadly, he hasn’t delivered the results. And Yamamoto? Sakon has got the type of sponsors which make you think “Is there a global financial crisis at all?” Let’s hope that the HRT squad decide to let him have another go before the end of the season. It’d be a shame to see such a good commentator miss out on an opportunity like he was given. Oh, yeah, and he’s not a bad driver, either.
Virgin Racing
Drivers: Timo Glock vs. Lucas di Grassi
Better performer so far: Timo Glock
Well, this one was a challenge to pick. On the one hand, di Grassi finds himself ahead in the standings, on the other, Glock’s results haven’t nearly been close to that of what he is capable and – for those of us with three hands – on the other hand, when have we seen a Virgin on the screen (well, besides Helmut Marko)? Mathematically, the Brazilian is ahead of Glock. But the overriding fact remains that, when he’s has had reliability on his side, Glock has beaten his teammate on every occasion bar one. He’s faster for the moment, but following his announcement that he’s “fully committed to Virgin Racing”, one worries that he might be forced to see a psychiatrist before the season is out.
TH
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Excellent, I agree with every single one. Shame Chandhok's come out on top, yet is replaced by Yamamoto for financial reasons.
F1 shouldn't be about who can afford to race, it should be about who's the fastest - and that certainly isn't Mr Yamamoto.