Lewis is Back

Hooray! Lewis Hamilton is back.

Despite the numerous molecules that have dodged Hamilton’s dire season seems to be a distance thing of the past. He surpassed all expectations and realities to lead and win the Hungarian Grand Prix in such dominant and frantic fashion.

All through his led there was the sneaky suspicion that he was on a verge (it’s known to happen) of a fatal mistake that would epitomise his tough season once again. But gladly there was no choke, no mistake and signs of the rekindling Brit yesterday was a breath of fresh air.

Rightly fellow Brit Jenson Button has been taken all the plaudits this season and
Hamilton has been portrayed more of a villain than a nation hero for much of it but this win will bring an awe of optimism for driver, as well as McLaren, to propel himself to start challenging the leaders.

Although it’s not a result that they can get carried away with but the signs that Hamilton, who once was the icon of so many, can right his wrongs.

It does seem decades ago that Hamilton took his spot at the spearhead of the podium but now he might get that winning feeling back again. This is also Martin Whitmarsh’s first win as team boss, after replacing Ron Dennis, and he will earmark this victory as his finest he has ever witnessed after his team has been dragged through so much this year.

From Liegate to the controversy in Malaysia, McLaren has been through it all. Coming to Hungary was big, after the significant updates to his dwindling MP4-24 model at Germany, it was time to show why he’s still the current World Championship and he duly did.

This is arguably his finest victory, his 10th and best. It was Lewis’ first victory since China last season, and his emotional exploits have been missed, Button is animated but it’s not with the exuberance that Hamilton shows.

Button was hoping for much more in his Brawn but Lewis’ victory helped his fellow Brit out. Keeping the Red Bull’s at bay is what he did and as the season heads into its second half, Lewis could become Button’s biggest ally.

Lewis, on the other hand, can leave Budapest Hungary (Sorry) for more.

FIA Give Teams Ultimatum

So it appears the FIA and Max Mosley will be holding firm on their controversial budget cap plans after giving the FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) until the 17th June to sign up for next season.

The list of participants for next year has been announced with just three new entries alongside Ferrari, Red Bull and Toro Rosso, who are contractually obligied to participate, according to Mr Mosley.

The rest of the season taking part this season have been included on the list of participants for next season and told that if they sign up 'unconditionally' for next year that they will be part of talks to discuss next seasons rules.

The teams themselves are wary, as they should be, of signing up without a new confidential Concorde agreement that restricts drastic rule changes without the involvement of the teams.

They want a longer 'glide path' down to the propsed $40m budget cap and are disappointed by the FIA's unwillingness to discuss on their terms.

I'd side with the teams on this one as they are likely to be trapped if they agree to Mosley's unconditional offer. Should they sign they will be unable to influence the rule changes, and if they don't they won't have a sport to take part in next season.

Jenson wins with ease

Sometimes things come far too easily.

Jenson Button stormed to victory in Monaco with utter ease; his dominance reflects the sport as a whole at the moment – unexplainable and very surprising. As teams discussed and argued about the budget cap, Brawn showed that money doesn’t always get you success.

Button was not even going to have a drive this year but now he is leading the way as Brawn GP show that they are far superior to anyone else in the field and that’s without the elusive funds that some teams can boost.

Even team boss Ross Brawn is surprised how well Jenson is doing. He told the BBC, “I’m lost for words about him [Button] because he’s exceeding everything I thought possible. Stunning. “

And there is no surprises if Jenson goes on to dominate the rest of the season, no one seems to be getting close. This was Button’s fifth win out of sixth and only four other drivers have done that, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio being two of them.

The glitz and glamour was on show at Monaco, the star names packed in to watch the biggest race on the F1 calendar but the race itself failed to live up to any of the expectation that was hoped for. In fact, it was rather dull.

Jenson’s partner Rubens Barrichello came in second place and it was another 1-2 finish for Ross Brawn and his team.

There was some good news for Ferrari or bad news if you like any other team, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa finished third and fourth respectively as the team looks if it has improved significantly. The team said they could really push on and challenge, let’s hope that’s not true.

World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who won here in the wet last year, finished a miserable 12th after his mistake in qualifying and a change in gearbox meant he started at the back of the grid. It was a wasted opportunity for the Brit as this is his track and it’s also a track that McLaren do normally perform well.

He simply never got going and the team tactics did not master the expertises of Brawn, starting at the back he could have started in the pit lane with a full load of petrol and be out for longer. But this wasn’t the case as the McLaren crisis continues to suffer.

Red Bull had a mixed weekend, wonder kid Sebastian Vettel unfortunately crashed out and Australian Mark Webber finished a very respectable fifth spot as they look to get some, if any, pressure on the Brawn team.

Williams’ Nico Rosberg, Renault’s Fernando Alonso and Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Boundais filled the remaining point's places.

Lessons Learnt for Lewis

This day was going to be the day that everything went right for Lewis Hamilton, sweep the lies and the poor performances under the carpet and prove he is prevailing King here at Monaco.

Unfortunately for Lewis it did not quite happen. When you are tipped to succeed, it often tips in the other direction. This weekend there was no lies or poor performance but a man obsessed. He can walk away slightly more grown up and thankfully for what he does have.

He wanted to do well, he needed to do well but his egotistical self once again out did him. No one to blame but himself and with that he needs to refine what he wants and what he needs. He wrote off his chances soon into qualifying as he lost his car’s back end on the entrance to Mirabeau’s hairpin and smashed into the tyre wall, breaking his rear suspension.

McLaren worked hard for Lewis and the car looked like it’s going to compete and it would have probably competed.

But he has dropped out and will be starting down in 16th on Race Day, he is far better than that and he does know it.

It was good to see Lewis be aggressive and he contributed many quick lap times. His hero Aryton Senna had a formidable record here and if Lewis is going to emulate him, he needs to understand how to concentrate his aggression and where to direct it.

Lewis still has time on his hands but he demands perfection and it’s a great quality to have. He should not always point his finger to the direction of his team when something goes wrong but take responsibility. His lying to Stewards in Australia lost him many fans, but he walks away from this weekend grown up and as he has accepted his mistakes.

“I don't know what I was thinking, I made a mistake," he told BBC Sport. "I apologise to the team for wasting their time.

"It's been tough but you learn from these mistakes. They are bound to happen, but it's just a shame it happened in the first qualifying session.

"My race weekend for a win is for sure over."

For once his weekend was not ruined by his team, trust issues need to be readdressed quickly before the rest get too far ahead. But Hamilton show signs that

Last season’s triumph is still fresh in my memory, and Lewis looked a man to beat rather than a man to win as opposed to this term.

I am still convinced he will do well hear and if any unexpected showers were to fall, I’m sure Lewis would find himself somewhere near the front.

King Jenson of Spain

Jenson is the King of Spain, well Formula 1’s king in Spain at the time being.

There is no stopping the Brit.

He shows no indication that he is going to slow down, winning a drug and he is hooked.

This was his fourth win out of five and if Bernie E-man had his way, Button would have the title more or less wrapped up already.

Jenson would have four shiny gold medals to Sebastian Vettel’s one but fortunately, there is still points and the season is far from over.

Rubens Barrichello is still providing great support for F1’s favourite son. He finished second to give Brawn GP another 1-2 finish on their debut season, this one was again down to perfect tactics that ousted their rivals.

Mark Webber finished strongly and put the Bahrain disappointment firmly behind him.

His podium shows how good Red Bull can be, with Ferrari and McLaren failing to find form or a competitive car it will be up to Red Bull to challenge Brawn GP for top honours.

Teammate Vettel ended fourth with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa holding him up in the final laps to stop his pursuit for a podium.

The Brazilian finished sixth to double Ferrari’s points for the season while teammate Kimi Raikkonen limped out after 17 laps.

Home favourite Fernando Alonso couldn’t find any heroics in his homeland but his spirited late drive landed him fifth place to much delight to his fans.

BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld and Williams’ Nico Rosberg finished seventh and eighth
respectively picking up the remaining points.

Lying Lewis finished ninth as McLaren showed no improved updates, he even admits that his car ‘has no hope’.

But what made this race rather exciting was the opening lap where everything kicked off. Jarno Trulli, Sebastien Buemi, Sebastien Bourdais and Ardian Sutli all crashed out after the first corner bringing out a safety car for all the refuge to be cleared.

Trulli flew off the track at turn two before coming back on to the racing line that made him to collide with the two Toro Rosso cars and that caused havoc. Trulli should have had more sense; his mistake should not punish others. He should had held back and moved onto the track when it would be more safely to do so.

Circuit de Catalunya is a fine track and it was the only the fifth time that a safety car had to be introduced in 18 years.

But once again this weekend belonged to Jenson as he continues his perfect season.