According to F1 Briefings, some fans believe Hamilton is not the most deserving British driver this year.
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Lewis Hamilton has been named Autosport’s British Competition Driver of the Year for 2022, raising concerns about his deserving of the honour. According to F1 Briefings, some fans believe Hamilton is not the most deserving British driver this year. Of course, it’s worth noting that the Autosport awards are decided by fan votes cast online. Regardless, the awards are named as they are, and Hamilton’s victory falls short, especially given his teammate’s performance this year.
Hamilton is still one of the world’s highest-paid athletes, with a Formula One record few can match. The 2022 season, on the other hand, was not kind to the 37-year-old. It was the first time in Hamilton’s career that he did not win a race. It’s also the first time Hamilton has been beaten by his teammate in the final championship standings since Nico Rosberg won the world title in 2016.
Hamilton’s poor results should not disqualify him from being recognised as a great driver. This is especially true in a year when his struggles can largely be blamed on the volatile Mercedes W13, which couldn’t compete with rivals at Ferrari and Red Bull. However, in order for Hamilton to be crowned the best British driver, he must defeat drivers from his own country.
That was not the case this year. George Russell, Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate, consistently outperformed Hamilton in 2022. Russell finished two places and 35 points ahead of Hamilton in the final championship standings, finishing fourth. Russell also won Mercedes’ only race of the 2022 season, romping home to victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Other fans have praised McLaren driver Lando Norris, who has excelled with the McLaren team. Tom Blomqvist was also nominated for his IMSA championship victory. Both are capable drivers, and one could make a case for their inclusion. Russell’s victory in the top series of world motorsport, on the other hand, somewhat outweighs both others.
Giving the best British driver award to a competitor who was literally and quite directly beaten by another British driver is strange. Given that the award is based on fan votes, the outcome is understandable. Hamilton has a much larger fanbase than the younger Russell after a 15-year F1 career, which will always help in such contests. However, pure statistics indicate that Russell was the better-performing British driver in 2022. In any case, British fans will be hoping that the dynamic duo can build on their success this season and achieve even greater success next year.
