aMessageToCharlie wrote: ↑09 Jan 2021, 13:59
Started of as a good post but became pretty one sided in the end imho, so here's a little context from a non Fanboy pov.
Other drivers are hard workers too and while Hamilton definitely went up against some great drivers as team mates, Vettel had to face some hard opposition as well, so I don’t understand why people seem to feel the need to discredit Vettel's accomplishments and paint Hamilton as a god amongst men.
Alonso
Button
Rosberg
Bottas
vs.
Webber
Ricciardo
Räikkönen
Leclerc
Looks pretty even to me, no?
Uhmmm... No!
Vettel faced an aged and unfocused Raikonen who was didn't mind being No.2.
Webber, was a #2 by force even though he tried his best to fight it. Always getting the short end of the stick with new parts and upgrades.
Also Webber was not the best competition in term of talent in those V8 days. Quickler less error prone drivers were on the grid then. Also Webber was nearing retirement.
Ricciardo... not much experience at the time when he beat Vettel. This car was pretty much is first fast car, coming from HRT and Torro Rosso. Little or no experience running at the front. Talented guy, but wasn't as good as he is today.
Leclerc very talented but a newby to the sport, still learning his way.
Vettel had no business being challenged by any of these guys. None of them were anywhere near complete when Vettel faced them. Webber was the only one at the peak of his powers.
As for Hamilton... No introduction necessary to his competition. All in their peaks. Defending champions, and champion slayers all of them with the exception of prodigies: Kovaleinen and Bottas.