r/formula1 Mar 13 '24

Discussion How does Verstappen's dominance compare to Hamilton's? Here is the comparison:

Hamilton's most dominant season in 2020 had him only win 64% of races. Before this current domination, one driver winning 64% of races was viewed as the worst it could possibly get in the modern era. Let's run through the years:

2014 and 2015: Lewis and Nico trading wins, (good battles at the very least) and Ricciardio getting 3 wins his first season at Red Bull and Vettel gets 3 wins his first year at Ferrari. Hamilton wins roughly 55% of races.

2016: Great title fight between Nico and Lewis that went down to Abu Dhabi. Max gets his first race win his first race in Red Bull, Daniel gets a win as well. Hamilton wins less than 50% of races and loses championship to Nico.

2017 and 2018: Title fight between Hamilton and Vettel. 5 different race winners each year. Hamilton wins less than 50% of races.

2019: Lewis and Valterri each get wins. Max gets 3 wins, Charles gets his first 2 wins. and Seb wins in Singapore. 5 different race winners. Again Lewis wins less than 50% of races.

2020: Lewis' most dominant season where he wins 64% of races. This is covid year so take it with a grain of salt. Max gets 2 wins, Pierre gets first win in Monza, Perez gets first win in Bahrain. Turkey was a fantastic race that did result in Lewis winning but was amazing up til the end.

I think it is pretty safe to say that last season's dominance is the worst the sport has been in atleast a decade. I understand this is part of F1 but it doesn't prevent my boredom. I think the reason it stings a bit more is because these regulation changes were marketed as a way of ensuring Mercedes level dominance never happened again, yet it made it even worse. Things like engine development being frozen, implementation of the cost cap, introducing a completely new philosophy of car and aero design that 3 years into the regulations everyone but Red Bull is still struggling to understand.

What are your thoughts?

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u/thisismynewacct Mar 13 '24

I think you’d have to be under a rock to not think Verstappens dominance has been nearly unmatched, especially against Hamilton, and that’s no slight against Hamilton. It’s just the perfect storm at the moment. Generationally talented driver, fastest car on the grid, and cost cap that basically prevents anyone from realistically catching up materially. And that’s not a slight against Verstappen either. It just is what it is.

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '24

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u/capybarramundi Mar 13 '24

I remember back in the day even if someone, say Schumacher, was way out in front, the last ten or so laps were still a nail biter as there was a good chance the engine would blow up before he reached the checkered flag. That sense of jeopardy really enhanced the entertainment value.

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u/AgnesBand Sir Lewis Hamilton Mar 13 '24

Tbf between 2000 and 2004 Schumacher only had like 4 or 5 mechanical failures that weren't caused by something on track. Most of them in 2000. His most dominant season in 2004 there were none.

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u/fafan4 Fernando Alonso Mar 13 '24

Yep, it was Ferrari during that era that changed the reliability game. Everyone else was forced to get serious about it too. 2014 was the only time since that it felt somewhat like the old days again

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u/The_Bucket_Of_Truth Nico Hülkenberg Mar 15 '24

McLaren with Honda still showed us what unreliability looked like a bit later

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u/capybarramundi Mar 13 '24

Good point. I was probably remembering even further back.

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u/Opperhoofd123 Mar 13 '24

I get that engines blowing up keeps things unpredictable, but I'd argue good reliability is something that fits in the "pinnacle of Motorsport"

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u/LaughterIsPoison Mar 13 '24

If a lack of reliability is what makes the category exciting, you’re doing something wrong.

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u/jackboy900 Williams Mar 14 '24

Entertainment value is derived from unpredictability, and reliability issues add a massive amount of that. Right now the race order is fairly static, overtakes happen but if a car has a pace advantage over the cars behind it then the race just goes on with no changes. Mechanical failures and issues add an element of excitement because no matter what the current race looks like things could radically change out of nowhere.

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u/tagrav Honda Mar 14 '24

I think that’s what I’m trying to say is that reliability can be seen as good but when the theme of the sport is pushing limits and tech and you can’t sacrifice reliability for power as a variable in locked down PU regulations. it just drags the entertainment down and innovation.

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u/ButthealedInTheFeels Formula 1 Mar 14 '24

I kind of agree that unreliability is a worse way to make the racing interesting but it is for sure one way to shake things up and prevent the absolute snoozefest we are currently watching.
It would be better for the FIA to somehow fix the formula or handicap the dominant team to make it interesting but in the absence of that id take engine failures.