Page 104 - Car South Africa (February 2020)

speed

2019 – two impressive wins in
the first four races put him on
an equal footing – and Hamilton
knew it, judging by his increas-
ingly thoughtful expression.
It was a sign of the Briton’s
greatness that he responded by
raising his game despite it being
his 13th season in F1 and the
sixth in succession as a serious
contender for the title.
Hamilton’s hunger for
winning – not merely finishing
second or securing champion-
ships through consistency – was
never better demonstrated than
at Silverstone, where Bottas was
HAMILTON genuinely faster during qualify- Red Bull is a much happier place
ing. In the manner of Niki Lauda thanks to Honda
vs. BOTTAS putting one over on Alain Prost
through tactical nous in 1984,
Hamilton chose a risky one-stop
Toto Wolff, the calm and effec- strategy that required nursing
tive leader of Mercedes F1, po- his tyres while forcing Bottas to
tentially has a similar problem abuse his. Hamilton’s win put
as Binotto when trying to control Valtteri on the back foot and
Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Hamilton romped even further
Bottas but with a significant ahead to win 11 races compared
difference; one driver is demon- to Bottas’ four. Even if the Finn
strably faster than the other. In halves the deficit in 2020, he
the same way you had to feel for is unlikely to cause a problem THE RISE OF also a mark of what is to come.
any driver teamed with Ayrton within the team. Hamilton will It took Red Bull’s Adrian Newey
Senna or Michael Schumacher, simply dig deeper and Bottas RED BULL AND HONDA half the season to iron out prob-
it is Bottas’ bad luck Hamilton will remain the same calm and lems with his car’s aero package
drives the other Mercedes. unassuming very quick driver but once the design genius had
Valtteri gave it his best shot in pitted against a faster one. Lewis Hamilton stole a win from found the answers, it unleashed
Max Verstappen in Hungary, a a thrusting young driver who
Bottas will remain the same calm tight track that suited the Red continues to mature.

Bull more than the Mercedes. The problem for Red Bull in
driver pitted against a faster one Verstappen’s defeat was not 2020 will be to provide Verstap-
a negative reflection on the pen with enough assurance
Dutchman; merely another indi- to stay onboard and win the
cation of Hamilton’s instinct and championship he now feels is his
ability. The Hungarian race was due. Should this happen, it will
a further sign of the welcome be good news all round. It means
breakthrough by Honda into the some thrilling racing as it be-
top tier of F1. comes a three-way team battle.
After years of struggle with Saying that, Newey and his tech-
McLaren, the switch to Toro nical colleagues need to work out
Rosso and then Red Bull in 2019 why their car tends to perform
saw Honda find reliability and at its maximum only on certain
power, with the bonus of being circuits. Overall, though, Red Bull
mated to a Red Bull chassis is a much happier place thanks
driven by an outrageous talent. to a sound working relationship
Verstappen’s three wins in 2019 with Honda, unlike Red Bull’s
were not only well deserved, but turbulent days with Renault.

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