Current Lewis Hamilton

A place to put all the posts from all the other threads primarily but love him or hate him, and even for the indifferent amongst us this is the place to discuss the marmite that is Lewis Hamilton, to learn a thing or two about his rise, talk about those controversial, genius or mad moments and something that i am bemused by, the recent articles that suggest something quite different to my perception of what's going on. Any experiences of meeting LH?

Brundle had to write a Lewis Hamilton article recently and in my tweets (which were probably ignored) I asked him to talk about LH the driver not LH the personality. It seems that you can't have one without the other.

So as a starter for ten, here is a fairly recent LH article. Posts should not be limited to this link but it can get some discussion going. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13755883.stm

The only banned topic as it is clearly ridiculous involves these four things "Glock" "2008" "Brazil" "conspiracy"

 

[FB]

But, and I'm open to correction, he has been censured more than any other driver. Anyway, I prefer not to go down the victim discussion route, let's try and keep if positive.

 

[Cookinflatsix]

Yes he has been censured more than any other driver in his first 4 years and has still out pointed all others in that time. So you could argue that even if he had been unfairly penalised overall he has taken it in his stride as it has not defeated him. Therefore he might have been victimised but he is not a victim and I didnt see anyone playing a 'victim' card

 

[FB]

I wasn't specifically talking about this forum Cookin, just more in general terms.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

You read my mind

Yes that incident is part of Lewis Hamilton's career to date, however, that particular incident has been debated to death, please leave it.

It will never get left alone. People will talk about that incident for the next 30 years, much the same as many other incidents in the history books. It's an important piece of F1 history and, wether you like it or not, it will always be a point of discussion.

 

[Quintessentially]

I feel too many people let their pre-determined views get in the way when evaluating Hamilton. Views mostly formulated on what they see as the annoying archetypical Hamilton fan. The question is - why would you let the opinion of a fan dictate your views about a driver? What this recent debate about Spa tells us is that some arrived at a conclusion without following the sequence of events during and after the race. Fuji 2008 was equally ridiculous, the rules once again being rewritten at the behest of Max and his posse.

 

[F1ang-o]

Maybe I'm an archetypical Hamilton fan.....I don't know?
I just feel that in LH we have one of the best F1 racers ever... & yet some F1 enthusiasts want to continually knock him?.
We, in GB are so...lucky to have an exceptional talent in Lewis Hamilton & I cannot believe some of the acidic comments made about him.
What I like is ....something that cannot be taught....... instantaneous instinctive reaction....an inherent trait.....and whatever the sport.......makes for the quickest.....ENJOY

 

[Lewywo4]

It will never get left alone. People will talk about that incident for the next 30 years, much the same as many other incidents in the history books. It's an important piece of F1 history and, wether you like it or not, it will always be a point of discussion.

 

[Senna's_right_foot]

I feel too many people let their pre-determined views get in the way when evaluating Hamilton. Views mostly formulated on what they see as the annoying archetypical Hamilton fan. The question is - why would you let the opinion of a fan dictate your views about a driver?

I was about to write exactly this but I couldn't have put it any better so I won't try. I prefer to leave the sheep to their own devices and would rather discuss and debate with people who follow, support and appreciate the sport for what it is rather than only liking it when 'their' driver wins and degrading other drivers when their man doesn't.

Getting past the bickering, having been a McLaren fan since '92 I was more than pleased to see Hamilton get a seat in '07 having followed GP2 the previous year. I loved (and still do) the 'balls out' attitude to his driving, for me it's a refreshing change to seeing nobodies, has-beens and average pay drivers who seem to take up most of the grid without actually achieving anything these days. However it has to be recognised that this style is also Hamilton's weak point, if he learns to settle for position sometimes rather than going all out all of the time then there's no doubt that with his talent more WDCs are inevitable. As Martin Brundle said at Monza '07 when he overtook Kimi at turn 1 - "he never waits until the next corner, he just goes straight for gold". I'd like to see the percentages played a bit more often.
I would have loved to see Hamilton paired with Kimi instead of Button. I have nothing against Button, i'll support any British driver and any McLaren driver. But Hamilton's aggression and drive paired with Kimi's relaxed 'wining isn't everything as long as you're having fun' demeanor for me would be an excellent combination.

 

[Lewywo4]

I was truly amazed at the hatred expressed by some fans towards Lewis so early in his ROOKIE year. The reason given by many was, all the glowing reports that he was receiving as a rookie from all forms of media in general.....So.....you base your hatred of someone, because of the positive media exposure that Hamilton had received, and something which he had no control of.

THAT'S JUST INCREDIBLE

 

[Jos the Boss]

I personally think Hamilton is the best driver on the grid and has the potential to win many WDC. The fact that he has only won 1 is purely Mclarens fault thanks to poor cars. In a red Bull I believe he would easily be beating Vettel week in week out as he has done that already this season is a weaker car, Vettel needs that massive point lead just to sleep easy at night, Webber being second says alot about the Red Bull being the fastest car and next season with a better car and potentially their exhaust system working Hammy could have world championship number 2.

 

[Sarinaide]

Thats what many said about Kimi to, that he had the potential to rack up the WDC but didn't, then it became McLaren's fault for not making good enough cars.

"Weaker car" rather bemused by that, when I consider Ferrari behind the eight ball it is met with almost incessant uproar. All I say is that there is nothing wrong with McLaren this season performance wise, and yet everyone is a country mile away from Vettel. Sure Hamilton could possibly beat all before him, on the same token all can possibly beat Hamilton. It is not that Lewis has ever been the problem, it is the sentiment that he can do no wrong, and the malicious defense put up when criticism is forthcoming.

Lewis is probably a victim, a victim of the perceptions of the support, who's who in the zoo, and who can dominate all is a matter of perceptions and neither is founded upon valid grounds so as to justify the need to resort to "he can do no wrong" and "he can beat all before him" discussion.

Sure Lewis is a great talent, but there are 24 odd drivers that all have great talent to be in F1.

 

[Cookinflatsix]

Lewis is probably a victim, a victim of the perceptions of the support, who's who in the zoo, and who can dominate all is a matter of perceptions and neither is founded upon valid grounds so as to justify the need to resort to "he can do no wrong" and "he can beat all before him" discussion.

Respectfully Sari, is English your first language? Your sentence is a little difficult to digest

Sports FAN tends to be derived from the term fanatic, a sometimes irrational believer in a subjective perception that their fave is best

You seem to be claiming that it is wrong to be a fan and that a sportsman with fans is a victim. All 24 drivers should be equally respected? Not sure that would work bud

Forgive me if I am wrong but did you see someone say Lewis can do no wrong even on this thread?

 

[Fenderman]

.... and, unless I'm very much mistaken, Lewis himself has on quite a few occasions explained that he made mistakes. So he, himself, does not believe that he can do no wrong.

 

[Lewywo4]

However it has to be recognised that this style is also Hamilton's weak point, if he learns to settle for position sometimes rather than going all out all of the time then there's no doubt that with his talent more WDCs are inevitable. As Martin Brundle said at Monza '07 when he overtook Kimi at turn 1 - "he never waits until the next corner, he just goes straight for gold". I'd like to see the percentages played a bit more often.

This is a major weakness that I hope that Lewis will address.

 

[Cookinflatsix]

This is a major weakness that I hope that Lewis will address.

A weakness? Lewis? What type of Lewis fan are you?

You are letting the side down here, Lewis has no weaknesses, is never wrong, and his 'beard' is very cool

Ok I was being sarcastic

About his beard

 

[Lewywo4]

A weakness? Lewis? What type of fan are you?

You are letting the side down here, Lewis has no weaknesses, is never wrong, and his 'beard' is very cool

Ok I was been sarcastic

About his beard

 

[Jos the Boss]

I like his beard! and what's wrong with going for the first corner? If your being held up and you just wait for them to get out your way you might have lost a good few laps.

 

[Quintessentially]

It is not that Lewis has ever been the problem, it is the sentiment that he can do no wrong, and the malicious defense put up when criticism is forthcoming.

Bingo!

 

[ExtremeNinja]

It is not that Lewis has ever been the problem, it is the sentiment that he can do no wrong, and the malicious defense put up when criticism is forthcoming.

Bingo!

Thats half of it. There are also many that think he can do no right. Lewis attracts ridiculously polar criticism both positive and negative. Both camps wind me up as much as the other. Guess we can't all be objective. The difficulty is knowing when to tolerate and when to educate.

 

[Sarinaide]

I guess we may agree on something, that the most talented like cream floats to the top, Lewis is in that catagory with a few others.

His style is vastly different to the other top drivers and that is a good thing, the only thing I don't believe is that he is the victim of arbitrary decisions, I also don't believe that he is not on a level playing field.