F1 2018 is over

The Formula 1 season is over. Lewis Hamilton is champion as are Mercedes again. It's all too easy to think it was another walk in the park for the Mercedes crew but the statistics hide what was a closely fought battle.

At the beginning of the season the Mercedes seemed to have another 'diva' on its hands and Hamilton was not able to extract the maximum. It's been a pattern of the last few years that at the start of the season Hamilton and his team-mate (be it Bottas or Rosberg) are closely matched with Hamilton having the odd weekend where he can't unlock the speed. As the season rolls on he gets more comfortable in the car and then can unlock its potential, he then tends to leave his rivals for dust. This year was no different.As usual, from mid-season Hamilton was riding the peaks.

For much of the season the Ferrari was the fastest car. Vettel was able to take some impressive wins and the title battle was see-sawing between Vettel and Hamilton. For around three races in the second half of the year Ferrari went into a development cul-de-sac and actually made their car slower.  They then reversed the changes and were fastest again. Overall I would say the Ferrari was just a touch faster.

What made the difference? I think it was the drivers. Hamilton has made only a couple of minor errors this year, such as in qualifying in Russia. None of them have made a huge impact. On the other hand Vettel has made six or seven rather large errors which have severely hampered him. I believe if Hamilton had been driving for Ferrari this year then he would still have been World Champion and Ferrari would be celebrating their first for a decade.

Hamilton has been at the top of his game this year, driving better than ever. I think he is right up there with the best. In fact I would now say he's above Schumacher. Not just because the statistics are close, but because of the manner of his winning. He is fair, and he has a team-mate who does not have to be subservient. Schumacher was outright number one in the team and very early in the seasons his team mate would have to pull over for him (e.g. Austria 2002). Bottas let Hamilton through last year in Hungary to try to gain a place, but Hamilton let him back in front later. This year in Russia Bottas let Hamilton through, but at that time it was clear that Bottas was not going to win the championship. There are none of the controversies for Hamilton of Schumachers taking out Hill in 94, Villeneuve in 97 or parking it at Rascasse in Monaco 06.

Hamilton's team mate, Valterri Bottas started well but was really outclassed at the end of the season and really needs to improve next year for him to stop Ocon taking his seat for 2020.

As for Vettel, he needs to cut down the mistakes. That's two years running that his title campaign has been sent awry by big mistakes (Singapore 2017, Germany 2018). I think the pressure of Ferrari gets to him. I think he is going to find it very hard next year with Leclerc at his heels. In fact I think there will be fireworks, and maybe Leclerc will get the better of Vettel (like Ricciardo did in 2014).

For now Alonso is out of F1. A career marked by brilliance in the car and petulance out of it. What could have been? If he'd made different choices at times in his life Alonso could be a seven time World Champ. He may come back, maybe Ferrari in 2020?

For now we can rest on Sundays before it all starts up again next year. The cars will have a few simplified wings, which can only be a good thing. If I had my way they would look simpler still. Roll on 2019.

Squiffy.