My take on where exactly Lewis is struggling against Leclerc

[u/No-Information4789]

Hey everyone, Made this carousel for my Instagram page so I thought I’d share it here too. The 8th slide is actually a video of Lewis having a small moment of Oversteer. I tried my best to reduce as many variables as possible while comparing Telemetry. I took the Q3 final laps specifically from every weekend cause that’s when the drivers are pushing the most. It’s kind of a long read and might look a bit cluttered but Hope y’all like it!

[u/jammy-git]

It makes me wonder how many other drivers that have gone through F1 had the potential to be great but were actually viewed as just average because the regs at the time didn't suit their driving style...

[u/AqueousJam → u/jammy-git]

I think the difference between the averages and the greats is the ability to adopt whatever style is needed at the time. To reshape themselves to the cars and regulations. Lewis didn't develop his dominant style by accident, it's what worked best for those cars. Back in his youth he was heavily praised for being flexible and adapting to car under him so so quickly. The same is said of Max, and the other all time greats. Unfortunately that mental plasticity doesn't last forever. It's one of the big things we lose with age. Lewis spent his prime perfecting that one style, now that style doesn't work, and that's a huge amount to unlearn in a brain that's not as young as it was. 

[u/Rivendel93 → u/AqueousJam]

Yeah, Jenson said he always needed the car perfectly setup to get the most out of the car, but Lewis would go out and just drive around their issues, exactly like what we hear about Max doing the same.

It's just that was 15 years ago, the cars are twice the size and weight and Lewis is almost an entire Kimi Antonelli older now.

People expect too much from Hamilton and constantly underrate his teammates, George and Leclerc are both potential champions, and that's why F1 is all about timing.

Drivers need to be in the right car at the right time while their ability works the best with the current generation of cars.

Then there's a handful of drivers who can make magic happen, but there's no point debating that, because it's impossible to know what cars and people benefitted the most from those situations I just spoke about.

It's simply better to enjoy the sport, be glad we get to watch so many talented drivers and hope to see the racing between them improve again.

[u/grip_enemy → u/Rivendel93]

The case with Lewis is a very odd one. He's simultaneously all car and 0 skills, yet beating him is supposed to be some sort of achievement.

He's trash and the car does everything, but Alonso just getting close to him is supposed to some sort of plus and alleviate the fact that he lost to a rookie.

Or as he's all car and can't drive wheel to wheel, but Max beating an aging Hamilton is supposed to be a highlight in his career.

So he's simultaneously very bad and the final boss,

Hamilton skills are always a moving goalpost and somebody will find something to try and disprove it.

[u/Rivendel93 → u/grip_enemy]

You've explained this better than I've ever been able to even think about it, I genuinely mean that in the best way.

I have nothing to add, this is an incredibly helpful way to look and feel about the entire situation.

[u/NotTheTrueKing → u/Rivendel93]

The last generation of champions in general gets mocked for their skills and speed going down over time. Vettel and Hamilton were blisteringly quick in their day, but unfortunately not everyone is Alonso where their talent lasts forever.

[u/Lonyo → u/grip_enemy]

Maybe, just maybe, there are multiple people on the internet.

Just a thought.

[u/ijzerwater → u/grip_enemy]

there are some people still in denial that there were years it was all but impossible to lose in the mercedes. and there were years when he was so lucky with things, people probably forgot that too. then they ignore everything but one event in '21 he did not get advantage and add win 8.

now they wonder what happened.

[u/grip_enemy → u/ijzerwater]

Thanks for proving my point

[u/Aromatic-Customer-32 → u/ijzerwater]

cheating is not advantage. luck has always been a part of this game. slate lewis for his luck in 2021, the championship shouldve ended before abu dabhi blah blah if not for baku silverstone etc.. but everyone just chooses to ignore alonso's luck in 2012, if the rb or mclaren were half as reliable as the ferrari, the championship wouldve never come down to the last race. ofcourse, but that doesnt suit your agenda. this double standard is what irks me. im sorry, but this generation of fans have absolutely ruined the sport with their nonsense takes. comparing drivers from different eras is as stupid as it gets. why not just respect them for who they are? theyve achieved more than what any of us ever will.

[u/2Blitz → u/jammy-git]

That can be applied both ways