Seems he was doing nothing silly--just ... unLucky.
Dunno how his 2012 talents (could be) compared with Tazio Nuvolari, Juan Manuel Fangio--the immortals.
Mere improvements in practical application of F=MA will cut lap timees, etc. Artistry??
But (from just my POV) the truest gauges of overall-Mastery were exhibited during the lengthy On-real-Roads races of the past:
Nuvolari; rounds a curve (prolly MIlle Miglia) to see:
a couple/some cars spinning uncontrolled; Sees: The Oil==some crankcase+rod met; Decides!
Observers said that his hands moved in blurs ... as he managed his car, untouched, through the spinning obstacles and proceeded well-under-control.
(Sucker probably had genetically-enhanced transmission of nerve-impulses? thus some ludicrous 'reaction time'.. 50 mSec?)
And yeah.. F1 is a Euro sport; driving around in circles is Ours; Multiple-skillz -vs- Endurance of machines.
Hope he surprises everyone; seems a nice non-hubristic kinda guy.
(Saw the Monte Carlo GP once.. Sterling Moss days ... tricky city streets. Don't think I could become a groupie, though.)