For Hamilton, the championship is more intense than in 2010
Five men for the title! It's a familiar scenario since back in 2010, the championship was contested among five drivers right up to the final races. But for Lewis Hamilton, the 2012 season is more intense than it was two years ago, with more drivers capable of scoring big points.
The 2012 championship is very open with 5 drivers who can still realistically aim for the world title. A situation that is reminiscent of the 2010 season during which 5 drivers were also still in the running as they approached the Belgian Grand Prix. But for Hamilton, it’s a different story this year.
« Not really, » the Englishman answers when asked if 2012 resembles 2010. « I don’t really remember what happened in 2010. I think it’s more intense than in 2010. There have been more different winners so I don’t think it’s the same. »
With a 47-point deficit to Alonso, Hamilton is currently in fourth place in the world standings. Enough to approach the rest of the season with a certain optimism: « I think we have a good chance of winning the championship. We must continue as we have in the last races. We need to be the team with the least ups and downs. »
To clinch the world crown, he will first have to unseat Fernando Alonso from his leader’s seat. In Hungary, it was clearly evident that the Ferrari wasn’t the fastest car, even though the Spaniard scored important points by finishing 5th. Nevertheless, Alonso stated yesterday that his Ferrari was the slowest among the title contenders: “He’s just putting himself in a good position,” Hamilton reacts. “I could say the same: ‘My car is the slowest of the top 4, but let’s see what we can do with it.’”
From our correspondent at Spa-Francorchamps
