Lewis Hamilton

Having resisted the temptation to write a blog post about the current snowy weather here in Britain, I thought that I would offer my views on Lewis Hamilton, his prospects for the coming Formula 1 season, and his future in the sport.  I realise that I am a bit late in the day with these thoughts, but here goes!

At the McLaren new car launch earlier in the week, Hamilton seemed re-focussed and newly energised.  He can sometimes give the impression of being ill-at-ease, but I think this is a product of his natural demeanour.  This sense of renewal and freshness looks quite genuine, and there is little reason to suspect any kind of smokescreen designed to deflect lingering concerns.

It is a good thing that Hamilton is winning the battle with himself, because he faces plenty of competition, not least from within the McLaren team. Last season the balance of power in the Woking outfit began to tilt towards Jenson Button, and there is no reason to believe that the position has changed fundamentally as we approach the onset of the 2012 campaign.

Although it is perhaps an exaggeration to conclude that Button is now the undisputed main man at McLaren, he has gradually asserted his influence and authority, all this aided by his general air of calm, serenity and self-confidence.  Whether the team itself regards him as a more "natural" and archetypal McLaren man is difficult to judge.  However, the detached observer may be tempted to view Hamilton as the outsider looking in, and Button as the man in possession, if only temporarily.

This shift in power among the McLaren drivers may appear magnified by their respective contractual positions at this time.  Hamilton's current deal expires at the end of this year, whereas Button is more firmly ensconced.  Hamilton has reiterated his wish to get contractual discussions out of the way, in order that he can devote all of his attention to racing.  Looking at the options realistically available with other teams, it seems highly unlikely that he will not renew his McLaren agreement in some shape or form, however much financial and psychological brinkmanship takes place. So he will make a further commitment to the team, even if it does not feel as solid and long-term as that currently exuded by his team-mate.

It is interesting to examine Hamilton's possible motives in expressing a desire to sort out his contractual affairs sooner rather than later. Reading between the lines, a cynic might view these statements as reflecting a short to medium term need to get the media hordes off his back, rather than any intrinsic urge to reaffirm his loyalty to the team. We can certainly surmise that the minimising of distrations is a large part of his reasoning, and it was arguably distractions of various kinds which led to many of his difficulties in the past year or so.

Regardless of these other considerations, what Hamilton really needs to do is to drive quickly and consistently, and "show willing" within the team. If he does this, he may find that many of the peripheral issues take care of themselves also.

The fortunes of Lewis Hamilton, and his position within the McLaren scheme of things, will form one of the most interesting sub-texts in the early races of the upcoming season.