Who has had better cars - Hamilton or Vettel?

[Kingshark]

An interesting discussion which initially popped up on another forum. Who has been more fortunate with the machinery they have driven throughout their respective careers? Hamilton or Vettel?

I've decided to use my own method to find out. This is by adding together all the constructor's points Hamilton and Vettel's teams have gathered in each season since they started.

NOTES:
1. In order to not over-complicate the issue, Vettel's 2007 is not included because he drove less than half the season (8 out of 17 races), and he drove for two different teams.
2. The constructors points from 2007-2009 are adjusted to the modern 25-18-15 points system, McLaren's 2007 points tally is based on the total points Alonso and Hamilton accumulated, ignoring McLaren's exclusion.
3. The 2014 points tally of Mercedes and Red Bull are adjusted to exclude the double points affect of Abu Dhabi.
4. Obviously because 2015 has not yet been completed, it has not yet been included. By the end of this year, the inclusion of 2015 will probably increase Hamilton's car average relative to that of Vettel.

Hamilton:
2007 - 531
2008 - 379
2009 - 184
2010 - 454
2011 - 497
2012 - 378
2013 - 360
2014 - 676
Hamilton's average = 432.4 points

Vettel:
2008 - 105
2009 - 380
2010 - 498
2011 - 650
2012 - 460
2013 - 596
2014 - 389
Vettel's average = 439.7 points

As of right now, Vettel is slightly ahead, but it seems that unless something drastically changes this year, at the end of 2015 Hamilton will jump Vettel again.

[Kingshark]

If Mercedes continue their current form this season (328 points in 8 races), by the end of the year they will have accumulated 779 points. Similarly, if Ferrari also retain their current form (192 points in 8 races), they will have a total of 456 points in 19 races.

I don't think that's an unreasonable assumption to make. If this does happen:

- Vettel's average car score will increase slightly to 441.75 points per season.

- Hamilton's average car score will jump all the way up to 470.89 points per season!

[Emmcee]

Wouldn't be a more accurate summary if you just calculated there individual points? After all not both cars in the same team are always the same.

[mrluke]

But this is only the 2nd season that ham has a dominant car, vettel had one for four seasons, whether the 2014 car is more dominant than say the 2010 red bull is irrelevant really. Its better to have a car consistently 0.5s faster for 4 or 5 seasons than to have a car 4 seconds faster for one season.

Not saying that either of those time gaps apply, just illustrating my point

[Vasconia]

Both have had very good cars. in 2007 and 2008 Hamilton had the best alongside Ferrari. But he had a very good car in 2010 and 2012 too, though Mclaren has been very irregular and has made a lot of mistakes which costed a lot of points.

With Vettel is easier, from 2010 to 2013 he has had great cars. He only had no so good cars in 2007 and 2008.

They have not dealed with cars which are absolutely bad or mediocre for the whole season as Alonso, Kimi, Shumi or others have done.

[ChrisF1]

I would say the 2009 and 2014 Red Bulls were mediocre, they were hardly realistic challengers - a lot of things had to fall into place.

[SilverArrow10]

I would say the 2009 and 2014 Red Bulls were mediocre, they were hardly realistic challengers - a lot of things had to fall into place.

Yeah but they are multiple race winners, if that's the definition of mediocre then most of Hamilton's cars where which they weren't.

[ChrisF1]

My argument isn't that it is a bad car, more that it was mediocre, and in more ways than one.

1) It wasn't a fantastic chassis
2) It wasn't a fantastic engine
3) It wasn't a good car compared to the Mercedes
4) It wasn't as good as the previous Red Bull cars

For me it is no different to the 2009 Mclaren that Lewis had - a race winner, but a very mediocre car by Mclaren standards (at the time, obviously in 13, 14 and 15 they've reached new lows)

[Kingshark]

I would say the 2009 and 2014 Red Bulls were mediocre, they were hardly realistic challengers - a lot of things had to fall into place.

In 2009 Vettel had 5 retirements while Button only had 1. With a bit more luck, Red Bull could have easily won the championship that year. They finished only 18.5 points behind in the WCC and 11 points behind in the WDC.

To call the 2009 Red Bull a mediocre car is absolutely absurd.

[Vasconia]

I would say the 2009 and 2014 Red Bulls were mediocre, they were hardly realistic challengers - a lot of things had to fall into place.

It was the second best car in 2014, with the best chassis but a poor engine. Yes it wasn't the dominant car of the previous years but it was a very good car hampered by a poor engine.

[Jonnycraig]

Hamilton has had cars capable of challenging for titles in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 & 2015.

Vettel has had cars capable of challenging for titles in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013.

So to answer the OP, Hamilton has marginally had better cars, but even with the level of Merc dominance, has until the end of 2014, managed to average less performance wise from them.

[arahman_93]

Its difficult to say but i think in general vettel's had the better cars(just by a bit but this is in general).
2008 - lewis better
2009 - vettels better
2010 - Similar
2011 - vettels better
2012 similar
2013 vettles better
2014- lewis better
2015 lewis better
so thats 3 a piece in terms of better car

2010 and 2012 i would say the redbull was better but in 2010 didn’t have as good reliability and in 2012 in first half of season vettel didn’t adapt to the banning of exhaust diffuser. Thats my opinion

[Emmcee]

I would say the 2009 and 2014 Red Bulls were mediocre, they were hardly realistic challengers - a lot of things had to fall into place.

In 2009 Vettel had 5 retirements while Button only had 1. With a bit more luck, Red Bull could have easily won the championship that year. They finished only 18.5 points behind in the WCC and 11 points behind in the WDC.

To call the 2009 Red Bull a mediocre car is absolutely absurd.

Exactly, not to mention they built the car thinking double diffusers were banned and had to totally re-work the back end to implement it and close the gap while teams like brawn and Williams already had them. If Redbull built the diffuser from day one, they would have cleaned up.

[Just_a_fan]

This thread is going to "go fanboy" before long...

[Shrieker]

Vettel enjoyed the best car by a country mile four seasons in a row. I don't think it's entirely accurate or fair, but if you judge by Kimi and Massa's current performances, in 2007 and '08 Ferrari was the best car and Macca only came close.

If Mercedes keep their dominance for two more years I'd say Ham and Vet would be even stevens. IMHO, it's also worth noting some of Merc's current performance is redundant for Ham to win the WDC title.