Having started winning again at the start of 2014, Lewis Hamilton has pointed out that the trophies recieved by those lucky podium placed drivers are not very good. This is a repeated claim from Hamilton, after he complained in the podium interviews at Silverstone last year that he was receiving a selection of red pipes rather than the traditional winners' trophy at the British Grand Prix.
It was Hamilton's point that Grands Prix should have desirable and historic trophies for victory, rather than having a plastic version of a sponsors' logo as the reward. I agree: I find it difficult to believe that Formula One could claim to be an élite sport with trophies that scream out Poundland. Since the Monaco Grand Prix is sold exclusively on wealth and prestige, why is it giving out this trophy?
Some of F1's trophies do transcend crap, admittedly, and achieve a level of genius only the truly awful could attain:
However, what can this possibly doing to the image of an elite sport? The fact the trophies are awful gives the image of doing things on the cheap, and they are actually spending huge sums of money to do so. A great trophy needs only be smelted once and it can be brought back repeatedly. A great example is the Wimbledon singles trophies (men's shown):
It is bizarre in a way. It has a pineapple on top. Players must leave it at SW19 and take home a replica. But it means so much because (a) it looks the part and (b) it has been lifted by all of the greats (apol. Ivan Lendl). Think of all the great sporting trophies: they're not one-offs and they're special because of what they represent!
Hamilton wanted the RAC trophy he couldn't take home more than the one he could. It would improve F1's image for more to matter - for trophies to be started now that return each year, and look and feel special. What does it say about a sport that its champions laugh at its trophies?
It was Hamilton's point that Grands Prix should have desirable and historic trophies for victory, rather than having a plastic version of a sponsors' logo as the reward. I agree: I find it difficult to believe that Formula One could claim to be an élite sport with trophies that scream out Poundland. Since the Monaco Grand Prix is sold exclusively on wealth and prestige, why is it giving out this trophy?
Some of F1's trophies do transcend crap, admittedly, and achieve a level of genius only the truly awful could attain:
However, what can this possibly doing to the image of an elite sport? The fact the trophies are awful gives the image of doing things on the cheap, and they are actually spending huge sums of money to do so. A great trophy needs only be smelted once and it can be brought back repeatedly. A great example is the Wimbledon singles trophies (men's shown):
It is bizarre in a way. It has a pineapple on top. Players must leave it at SW19 and take home a replica. But it means so much because (a) it looks the part and (b) it has been lifted by all of the greats (apol. Ivan Lendl). Think of all the great sporting trophies: they're not one-offs and they're special because of what they represent!
Hamilton wanted the RAC trophy he couldn't take home more than the one he could. It would improve F1's image for more to matter - for trophies to be started now that return each year, and look and feel special. What does it say about a sport that its champions laugh at its trophies?