It’s a clash between two titans which many people thought would never happen. The seven times world champion, the man who holds more records in Formula 1 than anyone else up against the youngest world champion and, some say, the most naturally gifted driver of his generation.

After Michael Schumacher retired to great fanfare at the end of 2006 and Lewis Hamilton burst on the scene a few months later, many people expressed disappointment that the battle between the Ferrari legend and McLaren’s protégé would never happen. It was a clash that people thought they wouldn’t see, much in the same way the battle between Schumacher and Ayrton Senna never really happened.

The German’s decision to return has set up many questions in one of the most mouth watering clashes of the season. How will Schumacher’s neck cope? Has Schumacher got the pace when it matters to beat the likes of Hamilton? Will the former champion be as ruthless as he used to be?

Hamilton’s winter has been much more promising than last year with the McLaren both stunning to look at and showing real speed in testing. Not only that but Hamilton matured a lot as a driver after the Australian Grand Prix debacle last year which saw McLaren’s Sporting Director Dave Ryan sacked.

For the first time in his Formula 1 career Hamilton found himself in a slow car at the wrong end of the grid, forcing him to have patience knowing he was unable to challenge for wins regularly. His patience was rewarded with wins in Hungary and Singapore as the team had a superb end to the season.

Meanwhile the Mercedes has not been quite so quick in pre-season testing with Schumacher expressing his doubts that the car will be able to win the first couple of races.

Under its previous guise as Brawn, the team lost the advantage it had in the first half of the season as Red Bull and McLaren caught up. That trend seems to have continued into January with the new ‘silver arrows’ not quite as quick as their Woking counterparts, with many tipping Hamilton and McLaren to win the championships.

Although testing is hard to predict it does seem that McLaren does have a slight advantage over Mercedes, which even team principle Ross Brawn has admitted.

“However, this is a new season and a new challenge. We had a strong pre-season testing programme with the MGP W01 but we have not quite reached the level of preparation that we would have liked prior to Bahrain.”

Historically though if anyone is capable of consistantly getting every ounce of speed out of a car it is Schumacher. That said, most people expect Schumacher to be able to win races this year but not to challenge for the title due to his age and possible doubts over his neck still.

Winter tests suggest that the speed is there but there are question marks over whether or not he can deliver those devastatingly fast laps when it counts like he did at the height of his dominance at Ferrari.

However one thing is sure. These two men will be towards the sharp end of the grid this season and both will win races. The first time they go wheel to wheel will be well worth watching as neither man will give an inch.

Who will come out on top?

Hamilton.

Join me and Victoria on Formula1FanCast.com’s Fantasy League Formula 1 2010. Our league is called Formula1Fancast.com and the league pin is 722. Try and beat us if you can, but be warned we’re good!

Related posts: