The thrill is in the chase for Lewis Hamilton and Formula One fan base

Lewis Hamilton, left, and Nico Rosberg. Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

The popular 1998 film Sliding Doors starring Gwyneth Paltrow focused on looking at two timelines, and seeing how they differed with a single change of event.

Sunday’s Formula One Chinese Grand Prix was the third successive race that was full of entertainment and great racing in the 2016 season.

Optimism is high for the year ahead, with Nico Rosberg having a 36-point lead at the top of the drivers’ standings from Mercedes-GP teammate Lewis Hamilton, that we are in for a thrilling title fight over the next seven months leading up to the finale at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November.

See also:

• Graham Caygill: Ferrari and Red Bull have raised their game, but Mercedes still dominant force

• Gallery: Nico Rosberg's hot streak continues at chaotic Chinese Grand Prix

Now let's plays the Sliding Doors scenario, and pretend that it is Hamilton who has won the first three races and not Rosberg, with the German instead being the one to make a poor start in Australia, get hit by Valtteri Bottas's Williams in Bahrain and deal with various mechanical problems throughout the weekend in Shanghai.

Not such an optimistic feeling is it?

If that was the reality there would be a lot of negativity in F1 that the same guy, Hamilton, winner of the past two world titles, is dominating again, meaning that we are in for another one-sided championship, given what has gone before between the teammates.

In fairness, that fear would not have been completely unfounded: Hamilton won three of the first four races in 2015 on his way to winning the title with three rounds to spare.

But this season is looking a lot more fun because it is Hamilton who is doing the chasing, rather than Rosberg.

Rosberg was the man in pursuit 12 months ago and it did not end well. Hamilton deserved his championship, but the margin of victory, doing it in the United States in October, did not do justice to Rosberg’s pursuit as he did suffer the worst luck with mechanical reliability.

We know Hamilton can chase well. He trailed Rosberg by 29 points with seven races remaining in 2014 and won the title in the final race at Abu Dhabi.

After a nondescript 2015 in which Hamilton won 11 of the first 16 races, the fact he has work to do this time is probably why the start to this season has been so well received, despite Rosberg winning all three races.

Formula One, like many sports, is judged on the entertainment value it offers.

For the third successive season we are looking at the Mercedes team being the class of the field, and the drivers’ championship being a private duel.

Based on what we have seen over the past two years, Hamilton has the edge when it comes to mental strength, a remarkable turn of events for those familiar with the tantrums of his earlier years in the sport.

We are still learning about Rosberg’s resolve. He was well beaten in 2015, but is now on a six-race winning streak, stretching back to the last three races of last year.

He beat Hamilton fair and square in those races, though questions were raised on how bothered the Briton was, with the championship in the bag, and this year has yet to see a straight fight at the front between the pair.

But this is exactly what F1 needs. Intrigue and uncertainty as to who the better driver is and genuine excitement about who will come out on top.

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