Quote Originally Posted by sollitt View Post
You continue to rely on statistics to support your logic. But statistics don't tell the full story. Paddon's goals for this season would have been determined by management prior to his sitting in the car for the first time in 2018. They would have had nothing whatsoever to do with winning stages or winning events. This last weekend has been the first opportunity he's had to go for the doctor and even then it was a measured drive to keep the car in the points and give the team the best chance at the title.
The less said about 2017 the better. The shenanigans that were going on in that team are well known in certain circles.
If you want to get an unimpeded impression of Paddon's actual speed you need to go back to 2015 & 2016 during which time he more than had the measure of both Mikkelsen and Sordo and on a par with Neuville.
Nandan knows that an on form Paddon is the key to them winning any title next year. He also knows that they owe him big time. The only question is whether he has the balls to make the right call.
Lots of drivers can be among the very best if everything goes right. Mikkelsen, meeke, paddon, ostberg, sordo, latavala...

But what differentiates the real very bests as ogier or tanak from them, is that ogier is still among the best when things don't go right. Them can start without front bumper of with the wrong tyres and still be at the front. They can drive in dust an dirt, open the road and still win the rally.

Paddon is good, but i can't say he's among the very best.