Hooray for Hamilton!

[this_is_gav]

Let the track do the talking and forget about everything else beyond that.

That's the problem - he doesn't. He's been all "cool" about everything this year, when on the track, other than 2 races, he's been very poor. It's the opposite to how he was early last year when he was building the reputation he's eroding now. He didn't want to talk to the media (understandably, though he's no kid) and just went out and did the business. Now he's expected to do the team and sponsor stuff, he can't fall back on the performances because he keeps making potentially race-ending mistakes, so he's having to mouth off.

He's trying to be Senna and falling short. Senna had an immense talent for grabbing his far inferior car and dragging it into positions you'd simply drop your jaw at. Hamilton's trying to do that this year when Ferrari's had the advantage, and he's just making mistakes under that pressure. He's built up this wonderful reputation and standard, and he's unable to match it.

If he wants the title he needs to sit back and rack up the points, not to try to win everything. He could so easily have lost his nose in Magny-Cours on lap 1, lost it in turn 1 in Silverstone, knocked himself out of the race in Monaco. He did knock himself out of the running in Bahrain and Montreal (though that was a different sort of cockup). Kimi didn't win the title last year by trying to go out and get the win everywhere - he just maximised what he realistically could. If Hamilton's here to entertain in the way Jean Alesi ended up doing, then that's fine. If he wants the title, he's still got a heck of a lot of learning to do.

[bigblue]

Let the track do the talking and forget about everything else beyond that.

Nah, I'd sooner not

Doesn't matter what field someone is in, if they're incredibly talented, but a bit of a numpty, I can't cheer them on. I'm bloody competitive myself, and have a great deal of respect for single-minded winners, but I get far more fun rooting for someone who is, in my mind, a decent person, even if they don't always win.

I'm a golf nut, and it was the same with Tiger, at least before he grew up! I wasn't alone there, as he got booed at a couple of tourneys. Best player in the world, but had an ego to match. His father said a lot of stuff for him, and rubbed a few fook up the wrong way... Hmmmm But as I said, then he grew up. He had a bit of a slump, took a few steps back, started realising that outside influences weren't to blame for his failings, focused on what was important, and came back stronger.

I'd be delighted if Lewis did the same. But I think his head is getting turned a little at the mo, and he's thinking he's something he's not. The new big thing in any field always gets a lot of interest, and he's it for the mo. He may not be for long, unless he keeps winning.

That said though, most ridiculous statement related to him recently didn't actually come out of his mouth. Good old P Diddy claimed that Lewis was going to teach him to drive, and said with regard to them having a race "Honestly, if I was up against him I don't know who would win."

[bigblue]

*sorry, added post in error instead of editing!*

If he wants the title he needs to sit back and rack up the points, not to try to win everything... If Hamilton's here to entertain in the way Jean Alesi ended up doing, then that's fine. If he wants the title, he's still got a heck of a lot of learning to do.

Yup The thing that stuck in my mind at quali was that his inexperience, or immaturity, was showing through.

He almost seemed pleased that, in his words, he "pushed a little too hard" on his out lap. It's as if he's trying to show off. Stating "it's just one of these things, it's no big deal" when he'd made such a gaffe was baffling, and I'm sure Ron and the team didn't think the same way. Doing something like that, while an engineer is stating "Do not overdrive" is just a little silly.

[ACiD303]

He's trying to be Senna and falling short. Senna had an immense talent for grabbing his far inferior car and dragging it into positions you'd simply drop your jaw at. Hamilton's trying to do that this year when Ferrari's had the advantage, and he's just making mistakes under that pressure. He's built up this wonderful reputation and standard, and he's unable to match it.

This is the other thing which bugs me (and you've already said it yourself earlier in the thread) - the constant references and comparisons to Senna - from the ITV crew and from Hamilton himself.

He tries hard to be Senna, he wants to be the next "Senna", but he should just be the first Lewis Hamilton. When Senna's family praised him, I felt kinda good for him - it must be a proud moment in his life.

But Senna as a driver, and probably a person, is far from the Hamilton we know.

Senna was a self-made driver despite being born into a rich family - he still struggled his own way into F1, even dismissing offers from McLaren to aid him through the earlier feeder formulas. Senna managed over 60 ludicrous pole positions during his F1 career, a lot of which trounced P2 by over a second...and some in the Lotus, which Senna made a contender himself.

Maybe if comparisons were drawn after Hamilton retires would more appropriate - right now, he's probably equally hated as he is loved - and unfortunately for him, it's not all to do with his driving.

Actually no, last season was very much a remix of 1989 season with McLaren headlining Senna/Prost and the (then called) FISA . . . that's about as close a comparison as there is so far.