Dawson: The battle within McLaren

ESPNSTAR presenter Steve Dawson wonders why McLaren's Lewis Hamilton regularly receives more attention than his equally-talented team-mate Jenson Button.

After the Canadian Grand Prix, I was curious to see that McLaren chose Lewis Hamilton for a publicity meeting with NASCAR's Tony Stewart and not his team mate Jenson Button. Curious, but not surprised.
Jenson is the most recent world champion, he was fresh from a race win in Montreal, has more points than Lewis in the Drivers' Championship and is relatively free of controversy, which is more than can be said for Lewis this year.
So what gives Lewis a higher profile than Jenson, I wondered. Is it his pop-singer girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger? No - arguably Jenson's squeeze, model Jessica Michibata, derives just as much attention.
Is it because he's seen as McLaren main man? Maybe - he's been with them for much of his racing life, but there have been rumours of a split that Lewis has done little to quell. Indeed, it's Jenson who only last week signed a new contract.
Is it because Lewis is simply more likeable? Unlikely - while there are mad Lewis fans, there are also mad Lewis haters. Not many fans I know are gaga over Jenson but I can't think of anyone who actively dislikes him.
The answer, I have decided, is that X-factor thing that people draw upon when they can't put their finger on anything else. Jenson may have been in the sport far longer but Lewis is the one people are more likely to recognise and more eager to see. He has star quality.
The more I think about Formula 1, the more I realise how unique this X-factor business is to Lewis Hamilton.
In the Mercedes garage, Nico Rosberg is good-looking, young, eloquent and - in the here and now - a better driver than Michael Schumacher. But let's face it, when the two Germans walk through the paddock, it's the seven-time world champion the cameras want to see and there's nothing X-factor about that.
Everywhere but Brazil, Fernando Alonso wins hands down at Ferrari. Felipe Massa for the most part is yesterday's news while Alonso has many tangible attractions that start with his driving ability and culminate in an edgy personality that suits his profession perfectly and keeps motorsports fans captivated.
At Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel's likeability continues to morph. From a petulant kid a year ago, he's now the golden boy - charming, playful and yet, able. Team mate Mark Webber is blunt, honest and hardworking and benefits in the public eye from all three.
It's Lewis Hamilton's X-factor though that trumps them all making him the biggest star in Formula 1. And just as you can't put a finger on why that is, you'll struggle to nail down why he can't be discounted from the European Grand Prix, despite not having the best car.