Why two top drivers are better than one
Tony Dodgins weighs up the pros and cons of McLaren's decision to pair the last two world champions as team-mates
There was no hiding the excitement when the covers came off the new McLaren MP4-25 at Vodafone's Newbury HQ last Friday. With 2008 king Lewis Hamilton joined by 2009 champion Jenson Button, it will be the first time that two consecutive world champions have driven for the same F1 team. And there's no denying it, the inter-team dust-up here is one of the juiciest plums of a potentially terrific 2010 world championship.
One of the reasons I happen to think that Jean Todt could turn out to be a tremendously effective FIA president is that, work ethic apart, the two principal traits he displayed while masterminding unprecedented success at Ferrari were pragmatism and single-mindedness. Todt happened to think that the best way to win world championships was to put the team effort behind a clear #1 and he would not deviate. Austria 2002 told you all you needed to know about that. It's sound strategy undoubtedly, so long as the #1 doesn't hurt himself like Schumacher did in 1999, but it's just not very exciting, especially if you have a dominant car.
Autosport 70: F1's age-old problems and how to fix them
Autosport 70: F1's age-old problems and how to fix them Autosport 70: F1's age-old problems and how to fix them
Best features of 2012: Early signs Kimi would star
Best features of 2012: Early signs Kimi would star Best features of 2012: Early signs Kimi would star
2012: F1 as it should be?
2012: F1 as it should be? 2012: F1 as it should be?
The hidden truths of Schumacher's comeback
The hidden truths of Schumacher's comeback The hidden truths of Schumacher's comeback
Celebrating Peter Sauber: F1 survivor
Celebrating Peter Sauber: F1 survivor Celebrating Peter Sauber: F1 survivor
Raikkonen and Lotus: Opinion dividers
Raikkonen and Lotus: Opinion dividers Raikkonen and Lotus: Opinion dividers
Ferrari tactics: Right or wrong?
Ferrari tactics: Right or wrong? Ferrari tactics: Right or wrong?
Can Ferrari find the magic bullet?
Can Ferrari find the magic bullet? Can Ferrari find the magic bullet?
Russell "kicking himself" for throwing away "comfortable" Monaco F1 podium
Russell "kicking himself" for throwing away "comfortable" Monaco F1 podium Russell "kicking himself" for throwing away "comfortable" Monaco F1 podium
Sainz: Ferrari could've been "more patient" with Monaco F1 race strategy
Sainz: Ferrari could've been "more patient" with Monaco F1 race strategy Sainz: Ferrari could've been "more patient" with Monaco F1 race strategy
Alonso defends Monaco F1 medium tyre call as track was "99% dry" on in-lap
Alonso defends Monaco F1 medium tyre call as track was "99% dry" on in-lap Alonso defends Monaco F1 medium tyre call as track was "99% dry" on in-lap
Mercedes F1 has climbed from "awful" in Monaco to "not good"
Mercedes F1 has climbed from "awful" in Monaco to "not good" Mercedes F1 has climbed from "awful" in Monaco to "not good"
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP The factors for and against a Red Bull upset in F1’s Monaco GP
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset What Aston Martin's Honda deal reveals about its true F1 mindset
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari? Would Hamilton really be a worthwhile F1 investment for Ferrari?
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience Why the growing pains of F1’s cost-cap era require patience
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks? Has F1 gone too far with its sprint race format tweaks?
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery The crucial next steps for McLaren on its path to F1 recovery
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades The bigger answer Mercedes needs from its now delayed F1 upgrades
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team What the lessons of 2013’s mid-year tyre change mean for F1 2023's dominant team
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.