Ryar wrote: ↑05 Nov 2021, 11:50
Just_a_fan wrote: ↑05 Nov 2021, 09:40
Ryar wrote: ↑05 Nov 2021, 06:51
It's one thing to underdrive 2 second a lap faster car for 7 years, appearing to be in full control, sleep walking and entirely another thing when there is another competitor having a matching car with better driving capabilities, requiring operating at limit.
Ah the old "2 seconds a lap faster for 7 years" chestnut. Total hogwash but it is still used as a stick to beat the man.
When team personnel (James and John Owen) have boasted of how they used to try and hide the actual performance of the car, to then you saying it was chestnut, I would let people decide that.
Just_a_fan wrote: ↑05 Nov 2021, 09:40
And as for who has the better driving abilities, until they drive the same car it's all opinion and no facts. For all we know, Hamilton might drive the RB16B faster than Max, given the chance.
Could very well be other way round.
The car was f'ing fast in 2014, no one is denying that - Bahrain showed that after all.
But to say that every Mercedes has been 2 seconds a lap faster is just silly. It's just hyperbole to try to downplay the abilities of a driver you dislike.
Yes, Max might be half a second faster than Lewis, Lewis might half a second faster than Max. Until they drive the same car, we don't know. So it's pointless to say "Max is better than Lewis" or vice versa. They will, for a start, have their own individual strengths and weaknesses - neither is perfect because no one is perfect. What we do know, is that both of them are bloody quick week after week, year after year. They both are able to maintain performance where others seem to ebb and flow. That's what makes the best the best. Every driver on the grid, on his day, can turn in a stellar performance - even Mazepin has won races in the junior formulae - but it takes more than that to be top dogs. You need to be able to do it for an entire season. Lewis and Max can do that. Bottas and Perez, for example, are both capable of out competing their team mates - they've both done it this year - but they don't seem to be able to maintain that level consistently. That's what Max and Lewis bring to their respective teams and that's why they are both well ahead of their team mates in the points.
So let's enjoy the show and agree, hopefully, that whichever one wins the title this year will deserve it.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.