F1: A look at the championship contenders

Lewis Hamilton:

Hamilton: A dark horse in the title race

Lewis Hamilton’s move to Mercedes from Mclaren seemed bewildering as Mclaren clearly seemed to be a better car and the team have performed consistently well over the years. But it has proved to be the right decision with the Mclarens struggling to finish in the top 10, while the Mercedes team is challenging for the podium places. Though Mercedes have had troubles managing the tyre wear this season, Hamilton’s performances deserve a lot of praise. The Englishman, known for his aggressive driving, has managed his tyres better than his team-mate Nico Rosberg, and has finished on the podium thrice this season. He currently lies 4th in the standings, 55 points behind Vettel, and realistically doesn’t seem to have a championship winning car with him yet. But if the team can get through the testgate scandal unscathed and find a way to manage tyre wear during the race, then Hamilton might stand a chance.

The FIA international tribunal hearing on the controversial Mercedes-Pirelli tyre test is set to be held on Friday; and if found guilty, Mercedes’ penalty may range from a small fine to a ban from world championship.