If they can sort out their engine problems – which team boss Christian Horner
believes is costing them a second a lap – they’ll be right at the front.
The naysayers were wrong to doubt Formula One
Only four cars failed in the war of attrition. That’s an incredible statistic
given the predictions before this race. Okay, both of the Lotuses failed to
finish, but that’s not surprising given how unreliable they have looked all
weekend.
Everyone in the paddock was quietly impressed with how Formula One’s brave new
world managed.
Magnussen is the real deal
The last McLaren rookie to finish on the podium in his first race was a
certain Lewis Hamilton, and look at what he went on to achieve? Kevin
Magnussen’s performance was nothing short of exceptional. He qualified well,
and raced consistently in a car which at the moment is some way off the
Mercedes pace.
In his comments afterwards he also firmly kept his feet on the ground, which
is vital if he is to succeed at a team which demands victories.
Lewis Hamilton has entered a new headspace
It got him into a slight spot of bother this week, with what he said about
Michael Schumacher’s accident – unfairly if you ask me – but Hamilton seems
in a different, more reflective frame of mind this year.
When my Fleet Street colleagues and I spoke to him on Thursday, a conversation
about his intelligence as a driver was sprinkled with the occasional
religious reference (Hamilton posted pictures of a visit to see the Pope a
few weeks ago).
Clearly, the 29-year-old has entered some kind of new headspace. If this is
one that will power him to the world championship this year, who knows, but
as his former team-mate Jenson Button said this week, Lewis seems happy. And
that’s important when it comes to his performances on track.