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Post by schumi on Jun 12, 2007 10:31:11 GMT
I suppose it was inevitable that I’d have to do this, just didn’t think it would be so soon, but with the media hype spinning out of control is Lewis Hamilton really worthy of it all?
He has finished on the podium in every race this season – a fantastic record, of that there can be no doubt, and I was cheering him on for the win in Canada like the rest of you, but I’m still not totally convinced. Why? Because the McLaren is streets ahead of the others and I’m sure that’s playing a major part in it. Plus I’m always wary of jumping on the bandwagon and so I’m taking the reserved approach.
Okay, so he’s a pretty cool customer – he kept his head into the first turn at Montreal, he’s consistently given a solid drive, and he seems to have a sensible head on his shoulders. Maybe that’s the problem for me – he’s lacking that “je ne sais quois.” Past British drivers all had a trademark – something that stood out – Mansell the whinger, Irvine the egotist, Coulthard the opinionated one, but funny at the same time. Maybe Lewis will be known for his calm, but that’s just boring. We need someone with flair as well as talent. The sport has enough nice guys who just get on with the job then quietly disappear at the end of it. Where’s all the controversy gone? Maybe that’s what I don’t like. Or maybe, if I’m truly, brutally honest, it’s because I see Lewis as a genuine threat to the records that Schumacher holds. Could he win this year’s world championship? I have no doubt he can, but for me, although I’ll be happy for him I think I’d rather see Alonso win it. Now that’ll probably shock a few of you, but at least I can hate the guy – I can be passionate in my dislike of him (okay hate was too strong a word) but I’ll still sit up and take notice. Lewis seems the type of guy who’s just too…well, too damn nice. And we all knows where nice guys finish.
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Post by admin on Jun 12, 2007 10:45:48 GMT
It helps that Ferrari seem determined to throw away as many points as possible this season.
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Post by Genghis on Jun 12, 2007 12:19:35 GMT
Schumi, On this ocassion, the media hype is well worth it. As long as Lewis is protected from it, and I'm sure Ron Dennis will see to that. Lewis appears to be a true superstar in the making, having made an almost immediate impact on F1 in a way that few have done before. Why shouldn't the British be proud of him? You're just scared that he's going to turn out to be better than Mickey Cobblers. All the best Rob P.S. I'm interested that you "hate" Alonso. I'm quite surprised, he's never got tangled up in anything controversial, he seems a fairly nice guy (although he does despise losing), he's a damn good racing driver (although apparently not as good as Lewis Hamilton), etc. What exactly do you hate about Alonso - just curious.
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Post by schumi on Jun 12, 2007 12:34:26 GMT
P.S. I'm interested that you "hate" Alonso. I'm quite surprised, he's never got tangled up in anything controversial, he seems a fairly nice guy (although he does despise losing), he's a damn good racing driver (although apparently not as good as Lewis Hamilton), etc. What exactly do you hate about Alonso - just curious. Why should Lewis be protected from the media? He's going to have to deal with it at some point, and a lot of people want to know more about him. Again, not something I can put my finger on. Just seen on the news he's accused McLaren of favouritising Lewis. Is that something a team mate (and the world champ) should be saying? It smacks of sour grapes to me and that just about sums him up. He seems to think it's his right to number one status, rather than something he should earn then work to maintain. And Alonso took Schumacher's crown. Edit: just looked at a photo of Lewis and he looks surprisingly like my ex. Maybe that's what it is.
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Post by admin on Jun 12, 2007 12:55:35 GMT
I really think Ron Dennis will carpet Alonso if he's said McLaren are favouring Hamilton.
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Post by Genghis on Jun 12, 2007 16:18:21 GMT
He seems to think it's his right to number one status, rather than something he should earn then work to maintain. Now..... who does that sound like At least Alonso doesn't vet his team-mates, and have it written into his contract that the other driver has to bow to him. All the best Rob
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Post by schumi on Jun 12, 2007 16:35:34 GMT
Rob When Fernando wins five world championships on the trot in a car he helped build from nothing I'll consider him worthy of seeking those terms.
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Post by Genghis on Jun 12, 2007 17:07:24 GMT
Rob When Fernando wins five world chmpionships on the trot in a car he helped build from nothing I'll consider him worthy of seeking those terms. Schumi, Ah, but you knew how I was talking about though As for building the car from "nothing", it's not really true is it. Ferrari had the second best car in 1996 (behind Williams) before Schumacher had a chance to galvanise the team. I wouldn't deny him his part in the Ferrari success story, but then again there were others involved who also deserve credit - Ross Brawn, Jean Todt, etc. But they hardly had to start from scratch. Ferrari had been perennial under-achievers for 20 years, but nevertheless, they had been there or thereabouts, and the building blocks and the budget were all there. Now had Schumacher gone to Minardi and won five sucessvice championships in that thing.... ;D ;D All the best Rob
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Post by schumi on Jun 12, 2007 17:12:56 GMT
You're splitting hairs. Anyway the man to watch this year looks like it could be Takuma Sato. ;D
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Post by Genghis on Jun 12, 2007 18:09:53 GMT
You're splitting hairs. Anyway the man to watch this year looks like it could be Takuma Sato. ;D Indeed - or Super Sato as I was calling him in the closing stages of Sunday's race ;D ;D All the best Rob
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Post by schumi on Jun 19, 2007 7:57:57 GMT
Just a thought: When Schumacher was world champion we had two GPs in Germany. Now Alonso has that honour there will be two Spanish GPs. If Hamilton does go on to win this year might we see two British GPs? Could racing return to Brands Hatch?
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Post by Genghis on Jun 19, 2007 18:17:38 GMT
Just a thought: When Schumacher was world champion we had two GPs in Germany. Now Alonso has that honour there will be two Spanish GPs. If Hamilton does go on to win this year might we see two British GPs? Could racing return to Brands Hatch? Or maybe Donnington, which was the last British except Silverstone to stage a GP race in this country? Mind you, it couldn't be as good as the 1993 race at Donnington, which saw simply the greatest F1 drive of all-time. Senna. Donnington. Rain. Tyres. Lap 1. It's gone down in legend. All the best Rob
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2007 10:44:30 GMT
Could racing return to Brands Hatch? I would be very happy if the British GP never darkened the door of Silverstone again. Brands Hatch is a far superior circuit, but then we'd no doubt get the predictable whinges about it being too far 'down sarf'.
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Post by donsking on Jun 22, 2007 20:24:44 GMT
Very remiss of me not to keep up to date, but I don't think Brands is FIA cleared for F1; I know Nicola Foulston had grand plans for an F1 future, but despite spending a small fortune on pit facilities and track remodelling, I'm not sure they can get the safety features right without planning permission to expand slightly, and the local residents will never allow that.
Last I heard, the new management had put plans for a return to F1 on the back burner, so it looks like the biggest things to be staged at Brands for the forseeable future are a few rounds of the BTCC and the annual visit from the DTM crew.
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Post by schumi on Nov 1, 2007 19:15:24 GMT
P.S. I'm interested that you "hate" Alonso. I'm quite surprised, he's never got tangled up in anything controversial, he seems a fairly nice guy (although he does despise losing), he's a damn good racing driver (although apparently not as good as Lewis Hamilton), etc. What exactly do you hate about Alonso - just curious. ;D ;D Isn't it funny going over past quotes? I was actually looking to see if I'd have to eat my words, but it turns out I don't. But I've realised it's not Lewis I dislike, it's the sheep. So many people have come out of the woodwork claiming to be fans of the Brit, yet they haven't got a clue about F1. Lewis has driven well and thoroughly deserves the praise, but when it came down to it he just didn't have enough to finish the job. Hopefully he's learned a valuable lesson this year.
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