Hi folks...
We are heading into the final third of the season now and, once this weekend's event draws to a close, we will only have five races left.
Currently, of course,
Lewis Hamilton still leads the race for the drivers' championship and that really is remarkable. For him to have achieved what he has so far has just been incredible and, this Sunday, we will get to see the latest 'chapter' in his debut season.
The last event, three weeks ago in Hungary, was a tough one for Lewis, McLaren-Mercedes and
Fernando Alonso, with what happened in qualifying and all the fall-out from that. It is obvious that none of them will want to go through that again any time soon but, hopefully, they will all have learnt from it - and will come out that much stronger.
McLaren definitely need Lewis and Fernando to build up a bit of a relationship again as that will be crucial if they are to beat
Ferrari.
Both drivers need to bear the team in mind a little more too – although, with there being a constructors’
and drivers’ title, it does by their very nature create a conflict.
Ron Dennis has dealt with it before though and, while he definitely seemed drained at the Hungaroring, he has had this situation with the likes of Alain Prost and
Ayrton Senna, so it’s not anything new.
McLaren do have a lot on their plate currently though and, if the on-going spy row wasn’t enough - the FIA’s Court of Appeal is due to convene next month before the Belgian Grand Prix to look into that - Ron now has to play ‘referee’ with Lewis and Alonso.
On top of that, he also has another
FIA hearing to try and get back the constructors’ points that the team lost as a result of the stewards’ ruling in Hungary. That will take place after the event in Spa, on 19 September.
All-in-all, I hope Ron has made the most of the break, because he and the team are in for a very busy few weeks, starting as soon as the circus arrives in Turkey.
