F1 2017 MCLAREN DRIVERS
It epitomised the skill and competitive will both drivers brought to the season. He came slightly off the throttle on the run to Eau Rouge to keep Vettel tucked up behind his rear wing, leaving the German able only to pull alongside on the Kemmel straight, then concluded with outstanding braking into Les Combes on cold rubber to hold the lead.
F1 2017 MCLAREN DRIVER
Having been nip and tuck, with nothing to choose between them throughout, Vettel charged at Hamilton after a safety car restart but the British driver displayed the racecraft of a champion to hold him off. So, with relations normalised, perhaps the more telling moment was at Spa. Hamilton revealed last week he subsequently warned Vettel not to “disrespect” him on the track again. But ultimately the incident did not descend into the ill-feeling and needle that was expected. Vettel believed Hamilton had brake-tested him before a safety car restart and in doing so damaged his front wing – incensed he pulled alongside and sideswiped Hamilton’s car. Vettel’s loss of self‑control when he chose to barge Hamilton in Baku was the most incendiary incident between the pair in a season in which there was a friendly mutual respect. They finished 75 seconds ahead of their nearest competitor – clear notice that the two drivers would decide the title. Vettel described it as a “great race” and Hamilton as “how racing should be”.
They would battle on for several more laps but Hamilton, with his tyre advantage, finally made it stick. Vettel squeezed Hamilton wide – hard, fair and unmissable. He emerged side by side with Vettel and the pair went wheel to wheel through turn one. Mercedes on an alternate strategy, kept Hamilton out with the intent on him finishing on fresher, softer tyres. Vettel opened with intent, jumping Hamilton off the line and taking the lead into turn one, and after his stop he displayed more resolve when he pulled off a magnificent pass on Valtteri Bottas to retake the lead.
Other races had more incident and more action in the midfield but at the front Vettel and Hamilton both drove to the limit to turn in a gripping encounter at the Circuit de Catalunya. So often the venue for a straightforward procession, Barcelona, where the teams test, reducing unknown variables, hosted a tense and thrilling encounter. A consummate season from a now formidably complete driver. Finally, there was maturity and skilful on-track judgment to ensure he closed it out, rather than taking risks. He accepted setbacks and made the best he could out of them, as shown with a controlled but aggressive drive in Austria to take fourth from eighth on the grid, then exploited any chances offered by his rival, all but ending the fight through Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. His qualifying was as good as he has ever produced, especially at Canada, Silverstone, Spa – where track position proved crucial – and of course Monza in the wet. Major errors were notable only for their absence and when dominant he was ruthless – as at Silverstone.
Hamilton had to cope with a demanding car, struggling to find set-up and with the pressure of being behind until the 13th round. With competition from Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari that was at least on a par with the Mercedes and at certain circuits the better car, the British driver had to be at his best and successfully bring together every facet of his craft. Lewis Hamilton produced an exceptional performance to secure his fourth – and what he admitted was his most challenging and most rewarding – title.
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