Lewis Hamilton (5 Viewers)

[Saddlebrains]

Thoughts? 6 time F1 world champion. 5 wins off Schumachers record. 1 title off Schumachers record.

No denying he is a phenomenal sportsman, but i personally am not keen on him, which got me thinking.

Why? Why isn't the vast majority of the British public sold on him? In any other sport, a British multiple world champion would have the whole country's backing.

Bit of an enigma is Lewis

 

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[fernandopartridge]

He's an incredibly boring tax exile in an elitest sport where basically the ingenuity of the engineers that design and build the best cars is the real reason for success

 

[Houchens Head]

Not that struck on him either. I used to like drivers like James Hunt, Eddie Irvine, Johnnie Herbert etc. They had a bit about them. Hamilton is to F1 what Steve Davis was to World Snooker. Boring as f...!

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

6 world titles will go down in history as an absolute legend

 

[Skyblueweeman]

I've been here all weekend with work and had a front row seat. Whatever your thoughts on LH, hes a great driver.

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[tisza]

He's a great driver. Not necessarily an endearing personality as he comes off a bit aloof. Takes a certain single-mindedness to achieve this success which people don't seem to like. Mansell was never that popular either.

 

[Corrado]

True sporting legend - he is "boring" comments are just ridicules.

 

[Corrado]

He's an incredibly boring tax exile in an elitest sport where basically the ingenuity of the engineers that design and build the best cars is the real reason for success

What crap - so essentially you are saying the cars drive themselves.

 

[pastythegreat]

He's an incredibly boring tax exile in an elitest sport where basically the ingenuity of the engineers that design and build the best cars is the real reason for success

Completely disagree.
Yes having the best car certainly helps, but it's not completely down to the engineers to build the best cars (see Nicki Lauda). The drivers themselves are engineers of their own cars.
Also, when Hamilton was at McLaren, Red Bull had most definitely by far and away the better car, yet Alonso (282points) finished 2nd and Hamilton (189points) 4th. That's down to their cars you say? Being the 2nd and 3rd best cars in the grid? Then why did the other 2 drivers (Button (73points)and Massa (112points)) finish 10th and 9th respectively? Surely they should of finished on par with the other cars? Or are you denying that there is any class in skill for individual drivers at all?

Although I do agree with the boring comments. Bit like the Andy Murray of the F1 world for me. Never see anything controversial from him. Just a tad beige.

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[tisza]

I used to like drivers like James Hunt, Eddie Irvine, Johnnie Herbert etc.!

spent a long 4 days with the Irvine family at a Hungarian GP years back. There was 7 or 8 of them. One of the worst (biggest) sessions I've ever had. They basically drank 4 days solid but it was a brilliant 4 days. Great company.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Completely disagree.
Yes having the best car certainly helps, but it's not completely down to the engineers to build the best cars (see Nicki Lauda). The drivers themselves are engineers of their own cars.
Also, when Hamilton was at McLaren, Red Bull had most definitely by far and away the better car, yet Alonso (282points) finished 2nd and Hamilton (189points) 4th. That's down to their cars you say? Being the 2nd and 3rd best cars in the grid? Then why did the other 2 drivers (Button (73points)and Massa (112points)) finish 10th and 9th respectively? Surely they should of finished on par with the other cars? Or are you denying that there is any class in skill for individual drivers at all?

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As an aside, Button outscored Hamilton over his time at McLaren. 2013, Hamilton had moved to Mercedes.

I do, however, agree with the thrust of your argument There's no denying Hamilton's a great, great driver, but I just don't like him. Maybe it's a Cov supporting thing of rooting for the underdog, as I didn't like Vettel until he started losing!

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

As an aside, Button outscored Hamilton over his time at McLaren. 2013, Hamilton had moved to Mercedes.

I do, however, agree with the thrust of your argument There's no denying Hamilton's a great, great driver, but I just don't like him. Maybe it's a Cov supporting thing of rooting for the underdog, as I didn't like Vettel until he started losing!

I think that’s a thing with English and British sports. We don’t seem to take to serial winners.

arguably the 3 most successful sports people these isles have produced in the past 60 years are Murray, Froome and Hamilton and there seems to be a lot of apathy towards them.

indeed going through the years there’s a lot of fanfare for people like Bruno and Tim Henman when in fact they were just lovable losers.

 

[olderskyblue]

Hamilton is a fantastic driver, a proper racer.

I don't get the hate at all. The guy is brilliant.

 

[Grendel]

What crap - so essentially you are saying the cars drive themselves.

Its similar to equestrian sports which the olympics have thought of removing as it’s not human endeavour alone

 

[Grendel]

I think that’s a thing with English and British sports. We don’t seem to take to serial winners.

arguably the 3 most successful sports people these isles have produced in the past 60 years are Murray, Froome and Hamilton and there seems to be a lot of apathy towards them.

indeed going through the years there’s a lot of fanfare for people like Bruno and Tim Henman when in fact they were just lovable losers.

well no on that basis Phil Taylor is the best sportsman in history

 

[Grendel]

On Murray I don’t think he’s had half the recognition he deserves

 

[Deleted member 5849]

On Murray I don’t think he’s had half the recognition he deserves

Even Henman, top four in the world, semi-finals in major tournaments.

When the football team do that, they're hailed as heroes, and it's a stellar effort. So Murray reaching number one and winning major tournaments... along with dragging the country along to win the major team tournament, it's top level, really.

Even to be top hundred in the world at a sport is still a pretty major achievement in its own right. The 100th best footballer in the world earns a half-decent salary, and gets a fair amount of recognition.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

well no on that basis Phil Taylor is the best sportsman in history

I thought of adding Phil Taylor - he’s a major reason if not the reason the sport is as popular as it is today. But I’m talking about mainstream sports

These people are not nearly celebrated enough. As a country we just don’t do success. We prefer as a nation the plucky underdog.

As I said above - I don’t get the love for Frank Bruno. The guy was world champion but was destroyed whenever he fought anyone of note.

 

[Skyblueweeman]

spent a long 4 days with the Irvine family at a Hungarian GP years back. There was 7 or 8 of them. One of the worst (biggest) sessions I've ever had. They basically drank 4 days solid but it was a brilliant 4 days. Great company.

I've met Eddie's sister Sonia a couple of times. Lovely lady and successful in her own right.

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[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Lewis is by far the most talented driver in F1 and has a steely determination and doesn't crack under pressure like Vettel has done recently. He will be remembered in the sport as one of the greatest. It is a sport that relies heavily on the tools you're given and he's consistently been given the tools. But he had a great car at McLaren and since he's left they've been poor. Similarly Mercedes have improved massively since he joined, so maybe he has more of an impact technically than we realise?

He is a bit dull but he's like Bono IMO. For some reason a lot of people just can't bring themselves to really like him. He has been a bit vocal on issues in the past which seem a bit 'do as I say' rather than 'do as I do'?

 

[Saddlebrains]

For me he will never be the GOAT. Second yes, but to my mind its Michael Schumacher .

21 races a season. 15 in Schumacher's day. Schumacher won 2 titles in a Benetton which was gash. Lewis has jumped into the best cars, the 07 08 McLaren's, the Mercedes from 2014 onwards. Schumacher turned a mediocre Ferrari team into dominaters for 7 solid seasons. Yes stats wise Lewis may well go ahead, but its a lop sided comparison. You look into how the won there titles and races, and it shows Schumacher was on another level. However i will concede Lewis is fantastic, a phenomenal driver the likes of which, him, Schumacher, Senna will always be the 3 best

 

[olderskyblue]

For me he will never be the GOAT. Second yes, but to my mind its Michael Schumacher .

21 races a season. 15 in Schumacher's day. Schumacher won 2 titles in a Benetton which was gash. Lewis has jumped into the best cars, the 07 08 McLaren's, the Mercedes from 2014 onwards. Schumacher turned a mediocre Ferrari team into dominaters for 7 solid seasons. Yes stats wise Lewis may well go ahead, but its a lop sided comparison. You look into how the won there titles and races, and it shows Schumacher was on another level. However i will concede Lewis is fantastic, a phenomenal driver the likes of which, him, Schumacher, Senna will always be the 3 best

Some of the ways Schumacher went about winning his titles left a lot to be desired..... and there were some shenanigans on the benetton that made it a much better car than the rest of the grid. Gash? hardly...

he was a brilliant driver though

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

For me he will never be the GOAT. Second yes, but to my mind its Michael Schumacher .

21 races a season. 15 in Schumacher's day. Schumacher won 2 titles in a Benetton which was gash. Lewis has jumped into the best cars, the 07 08 McLaren's, the Mercedes from 2014 onwards. Schumacher turned a mediocre Ferrari team into dominaters for 7 solid seasons. Yes stats wise Lewis may well go ahead, but its a lop sided comparison. You look into how the won there titles and races, and it shows Schumacher was on another level. However i will concede Lewis is fantastic, a phenomenal driver the likes of which, him, Schumacher, Senna will always be the 3 best

I would argue that he won the title last year In the second best car - Ferrari had the best car but blew it.

I’d still say Fangio is the best, Lauda then Schumacher.

 

[Si80]

Really pleased for Lewis. Massive fan of his and I think next year he’ll match Schumacher’s 7 World titles. I think the following year will be a lot tougher though.

Really liked this interview he did. Might change a few opinions of him, might not.

 

[covcity4life]

he comes accross as a egotisitcal nobend

come on bottas! next year lol

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Some of the ways Schumacher went about winning his titles left a lot to be desired..... and there were some shenanigans on the benetton that made it a much better car than the rest of the grid. Gash? hardly...

he was a brilliant driver though

Also had the advantage, such as it was, that Williams ended up with their test driver as #1, and McLaren forgot how to produce a reliable car.

So many great drivers though. Personally I always feel Prost doesn't get the recognition he deserves - by far the smoothest driver I've seen. You also have some who were unlucky to end up at teams at the wrong time, so didn't get the results they maybe should have. None of that downplays Schumacher or Hamilton however, as you still have to win it (see Williams above, where the best car lost out more than it should!) and not everybody can.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

he comes accross as a egotisitcal nobend

come on bottas! next year lol

An egotistical nobend? Wouldn't that make him a drag racer? Although I have now got images in my head of him driving the car in an outrageous sequined evening dress and huge wig which I'm finding far more amusing than I should.

Not sure about the safety issues though - yes, he'd have a couple of extra airbags but his helmet would be tucked between his legs.

'Drag Race' name: Raz Caz

 

[covcity4life]

An egotistical nobend? Wouldn't that make him a drag racer? Although I have now got images in my head of him driving the car in an outrageous sequined evening dress and huge wig which I'm finding far more amusing than I should.

Not sure about the safety issues though - yes, he'd have a couple of extra airbags but his helmet would be tucked between his legs.

'Drag Race' name: Raz Caz

 

[CCFC88]

Thoughts? 6 time F1 world champion. 5 wins off Schumachers record. 1 title off Schumachers record.

No denying he is a phenomenal sportsman, but i personally am not keen on him, which got me thinking.

Why? Why isn't the vast majority of the British public sold on him? In any other sport, a British multiple world champion would have the whole country's backing.

Bit of an enigma is Lewis

Its not a sport, its a hobby for rich kids.

 

[Saddlebrains]

He's wearing a copy of the Guardian the pretentious prick.

Any wonder no one likes him?

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Despite having the best car, when the rain comes and conditions are treacherous, no-one can get close to Hamilton. That is down to skill, not the car.

 

[Covstu]

Dull friggin sport. Fucking pointless

 

[It’sabatch87]

I’ve always wondered why don’t they put the best drivers in the shit cars and vice versa might make it a bit interesting then?

 

[skybluetony176]

I’ve always wondered why don’t they put the best drivers in the shit cars and vice versa might make it a bit interesting then?

Or do it like short circuit motor racing. The more points you have during the season the further down the grid you start.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Or do it like short circuit motor racing. The more points you have during the season the further down the grid you start.

That would make a lot of sense in my view.

I used to enthusiastically watch F1, had the video game and everything. The last great race I watched was Button’s win in Montreal when he came from the back of the grid.

Personally, I think the sport has lost its competitive edge. You had Vettel and Red Bull dominating, now Hamilton and Mercedes. I don’t really tend to watch sports when I could reasonably predict what happens, and for the last few years it’s pretty much been the Lewis Hamilton show.

His comments about turning vegan being the ‘only way to save the planet’ grated on me. It really showed a lack of awareness that someone who literally drives a car on a track for a living can preach to ordinary people on climate change. Then again, I’m quite skeptical of a lot of celebrities/sports people talk politics.

Great athlete, bit of a nause in the public.