22-04-2015, 15:19
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/32389200
David Coulthard column: 'Lewis Hamilton has a different aura'
By David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator and former F1 driver
Four races into the 2015 Formula 1 season, it has been a dream start for Lewis Hamilton.
After winning the world championship in 2014, Hamilton had a solid pre-season testing programme but there was no indication of him blitzing the lap times.
He went into the season with some question marks about the transition in his private life, following his split with former girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.
But he hit the ground running in Melbourne and everything we have seen since - including his victory in Bahrain on Sunday - is a happy, relaxed racing driver.
He seems to have developed the ability Mika Hakkinen had of being either unaware of, or unaffected by, whatever is happening in the media or the world around him, outside of driving his racing car and whatever his private passion is away from the race track.
Mika Hakkinen
Mika Hakkinen was the 1998 and 1999 Formula 1 world champion
There is a different aura about Hamilton this year. He seems more aware and connected than before.
I found him a bit distant for a while, almost as if you would have to reintroduce yourself; you know: "My name's David, I used to be a grand prix driver."
Now, he's reflecting on that, he'll mention it, comment on it. It's not like we lost Lewis, but he is certainly now completely comfortable with who he is, right down to his own sense of style and fashion, which Mercedes are happy to let him express.
At the same time, he is not allowing that to distance him from his past - after all, the F1 paddock is full of people he has either worked with, competed against or who have helped him along the way.
'Ferrari are a real challenge'
Ferrari's hopes of beating Hamilton and Mercedes to the championship lie in their rate of development. They have definitely finessed their package over the winter and are coming from much further back than Mercedes after a poor 2014.
The whole team has taken a step forward. And now, following Kimi Raikkonen's performance in Bahrain - where he looked a serious challenger to team-mate Sebastian Vettel for the first time, they have two drivers who can take the fight to Mercedes.
Two world champion drivers in a car that looks like it is one step away from being a Mercedes race-beater is a potent package, and one Mercedes are taking seriously.
Mercedes still look like they have an advantage in qualifying, with their extra engine modes, but Ferrari are a real challenge in the race.
Hamilton appears to be a small step ahead in the races, but it would not take much for Ferrari to challenge him.
The under-cut - making a pit stop before a rival and gaining time through the extra grip from fresh tyres - was so powerful in Bahrain that Hamilton was pretty close to losing the lead.
He is a great racer and would more than likely be able to get the lead back if he did lose track position.
But once you're having to drive the car in turbulent air you don't have the rhythm you have when you're out front, so it would not be a shoo-in that he would be able to find his way back in front again.
Just look at how Vettel was neutralised behind Valtteri Bottas's Williams in Bahrain for evidence of that.
Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg, meanwhile, went into Sunday's race with a point to prove.
He needed to out-qualify Hamilton, which did not work out. But he came back from that very well and it was the strongest racing grand prix I have seen from Rosberg since he has been Hamilton's team-mate.
It was only a technical problem that cost him second place, so Rosberg gets 10 out of 10 for racing composure.
It was a strong grand prix from Nico and if he is able to unleash that sort of performance at the forthcoming races, Hamilton will have a lot of pressure on him.
Raikkonen raises his game
Raikkonen has been quick all season, but Bahrain was the first time a weekend has properly come together for him.
sigue
David Coulthard column: 'Lewis Hamilton has a different aura'
By David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator and former F1 driver
Four races into the 2015 Formula 1 season, it has been a dream start for Lewis Hamilton.
After winning the world championship in 2014, Hamilton had a solid pre-season testing programme but there was no indication of him blitzing the lap times.
He went into the season with some question marks about the transition in his private life, following his split with former girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.
But he hit the ground running in Melbourne and everything we have seen since - including his victory in Bahrain on Sunday - is a happy, relaxed racing driver.
He seems to have developed the ability Mika Hakkinen had of being either unaware of, or unaffected by, whatever is happening in the media or the world around him, outside of driving his racing car and whatever his private passion is away from the race track.
Mika Hakkinen
Mika Hakkinen was the 1998 and 1999 Formula 1 world champion
There is a different aura about Hamilton this year. He seems more aware and connected than before.
I found him a bit distant for a while, almost as if you would have to reintroduce yourself; you know: "My name's David, I used to be a grand prix driver."
Now, he's reflecting on that, he'll mention it, comment on it. It's not like we lost Lewis, but he is certainly now completely comfortable with who he is, right down to his own sense of style and fashion, which Mercedes are happy to let him express.
At the same time, he is not allowing that to distance him from his past - after all, the F1 paddock is full of people he has either worked with, competed against or who have helped him along the way.
'Ferrari are a real challenge'
Ferrari's hopes of beating Hamilton and Mercedes to the championship lie in their rate of development. They have definitely finessed their package over the winter and are coming from much further back than Mercedes after a poor 2014.
The whole team has taken a step forward. And now, following Kimi Raikkonen's performance in Bahrain - where he looked a serious challenger to team-mate Sebastian Vettel for the first time, they have two drivers who can take the fight to Mercedes.
Two world champion drivers in a car that looks like it is one step away from being a Mercedes race-beater is a potent package, and one Mercedes are taking seriously.
Mercedes still look like they have an advantage in qualifying, with their extra engine modes, but Ferrari are a real challenge in the race.
Hamilton appears to be a small step ahead in the races, but it would not take much for Ferrari to challenge him.
The under-cut - making a pit stop before a rival and gaining time through the extra grip from fresh tyres - was so powerful in Bahrain that Hamilton was pretty close to losing the lead.
He is a great racer and would more than likely be able to get the lead back if he did lose track position.
But once you're having to drive the car in turbulent air you don't have the rhythm you have when you're out front, so it would not be a shoo-in that he would be able to find his way back in front again.
Just look at how Vettel was neutralised behind Valtteri Bottas's Williams in Bahrain for evidence of that.
Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg, meanwhile, went into Sunday's race with a point to prove.
He needed to out-qualify Hamilton, which did not work out. But he came back from that very well and it was the strongest racing grand prix I have seen from Rosberg since he has been Hamilton's team-mate.
It was only a technical problem that cost him second place, so Rosberg gets 10 out of 10 for racing composure.
It was a strong grand prix from Nico and if he is able to unleash that sort of performance at the forthcoming races, Hamilton will have a lot of pressure on him.
Raikkonen raises his game
Raikkonen has been quick all season, but Bahrain was the first time a weekend has properly come together for him.
sigue
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