F1 | Lewis Hamilton and his bulky stunt double…

He who doesn't die sees himself again. Like ghosts that sometimes return, ready to worry a rider who knows how to win world championships repeatedly, but is prone to often inexplicable dark periods. Lewis Hamilton is an absolute dominator, he writes record after record, he finished a 2017 on a high note that definitively consecrated him in the Olympus of the best, also outclassing from a mental point of view a champion of the same level as Sebastian Vettel.

Yet the Mercedes driver, who the radio market says is close to a renewal with Brackley, is a serial winner who does not disdain some pauses for reflection, occasionally giving the impression of losing his bearings, losing concentration, suffering excessively from technical difficulties which should instead stimulate the more combative talent. He's a bit like Dr. Lewis and Mr. Hamilton, this Anglo-Caribbean with a magic foot who has probably become a bit bourgeois in the hybrid era, abdicating his aggressive instinct in favor of a foresight which is then a symptom of great maturity, but also a harbinger of some doubts.

Where has the driver intent on dominating in 2018 gone? The answer is easy: in the quagmire of the virtual safety car in Melbourne. And already because Hamilton seems to have remained stuck there, in that moment in which he lacked the greatest certainties. The English champion was slower than Bottas in qualifying in both Bahrain and China. In the desert he was the author of a "written" comeback from ninth to third place, without deserving any credit, while in Shanghai Lewis seemed lost, almost one of many, a supporting player. Submissive both in chasing those in front (Raikkonen) and towards those who attacked him (Verstappen).

Since qualifying, Hamilton has been complaining about the car, in the race he never felt comfortable with the tyres, even though they were his favorite compounds, the medium ones with which the Lewis-Mercedes combination often caused fire and flames. And how strange it is to see Hamilton finish fourth more by luck than by merit, as if getting a place at the foot of the podium was a result worthy of note, so much so that we had to thank Lady Luck.

It is quite clear that the feeling between the reigning world champion and his silver arrow has yet to blossom, but it is legitimate to ask whether this Lewis was not caught off guard by his rivals and teammate. It's not like him to leave the door open to his opponents when overtaking, it's not like him to suffer so much from Bottas, almost as if the two had exchanged helmets. The Finn is bubbly, close to victory, while Lewis is timid, more intent on complaining about the tires hitting the wall than thinking about straightening out a colorless race.

It's not the first time it's happened, maybe it won't be the last. Hamilton every now and then leaves room for his stand-in, a driver who lets himself be carried away by events. “If we win this year it's worth double, because there is great competition. I trust the team, we have always come out of the dark periods in a great way." These are the words of recovery released by Lewis, who however fell back into the most unexpected darkness in three effectively anonymous races. He had the inertia of 2017 in his favor, at the starting line he seemed unbeatable, but instead he got lost halfway between a bit of graining and a bit of blistering.

Where is the driver who knew how to win even with inferior cars? The drop in performance is a further glimmer of hope for Ferrari, and for Vettel who is so sure of himself that he doesn't cause drama for the unfortunate Chinese eighth place. With the same footing, the difference is made by the details. It's up to Lewis to turn the switch back on as soon as possible. For now it's Hamilt-off, when will Hamilt-on return?

Antonino Rendina

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