If the 2012 season has lacked one thing, however, it has been a defining
narrative to draw in the masses. Unpredictability is all well and good, but
in itself it is not enough. For the season to go down as a classic chaos
needs to give way to order. We need to enter each weekend with at least an
idea of how it might pan out, knowing what is at stake.
Someone from within that chasing pack behind Fernando Alonso – a model of
consistency in an inconsistent Ferrari and undoubtedly the driver of the
season so far – needs to put a run together and apply sustained pressure.
Lewis
Hamilton has a great chance of doing just that. The 2008 world
champion has been almost faultless this year, putting the problems of 2011
firmly behind him. Only bad luck or dodgy pit-lane work by his McLaren team
have prevented him from amassing a greater points haul.
Perhaps significantly, though, the Briton won the final race heading into the
summer break and feels as if he has momentum on his side.
“There is a lot of positivity around the team right now,” the 27 year-old said
before Friday’s two practice sessions were washed out by the rain. “Fernando
has been the most consistent driver this year so he is the favourite for the
title but it’s all to play for.” It certainly is.
Alonso is unlikely to slip up entirely. Ferrari may not have had the fastest
car but the Spaniard’s consistency is remarkable. The two-time champion will
equal Michael Schumacher’s record of 24 consecutive points finishes if he
finishes in the top 10 tomorrow. But he could begin to slip backwards.
Jenson Button, 88 points behind Alonso, is almost certainly too far back to
capitalise should that happen. But there are a number of drivers who could.
Hamilton is one of a select group of four that includes both Red Bull
drivers and Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen.
If he is to do so Hamilton must keep his mind free from outside distractions.
He has allowed his five-year McLaren contract to slip into the final few
months without agreeing a renewal.
And while it seems certain that he will eventually do so, it is clear that
both parties are still haggling over the finer points of the deal, to the
extent that Hamilton continues to publicly threaten McLaren with the vague
possibility of moving to another team.
“I don’t see myself anywhere at the moment,” he replied this week when asked
where he saw himself next year. “There are still lots of factors to be taken
into account.”
Hamilton must not allow those off-track negotiations to affect his on-track
form.
This season of thrills and spills, of unpredictability and uncertainty, still
has the potential to deliver a grandstand finish. So does Hamilton, but only
if he keeps his head.