Story from PF1 http://planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_2321341,00.html Nigel Mansell believes Lewis Hamilton has "rattled" McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso. World champion Alonso indicated there is friction between the pair on Tuesday when he implied Hamilton receives extra support from the team and admitted he has "never felt totally comfortable" at McLaren since the 22-year-old was confirmed as his team-mate for the 2007 season. The Spaniard's remarks came in the aftermath of Hamilton's maiden Formula One victory in Montreal on Sunday which extended his lead ahead of Alonso in the standings to eight points. And Mansell believes Hamilton's win in Canada represented a serious psychological blow to Alonso. "I don't think anyone can compete with Lewis at the moment. Alonso drove from the start of the race as though he was rattled. "His mistake on the first corner was very uncharacteristic and later in the race he broke the car. "I wish Lewis all the luck in the world and so does all of England. It will be a remarkable achievement if he wins the championship this year. "The only person he's got to beat is Alonso and he's already done that. What impresses me most is that he has Alonso rattled and that is remarkable." Mansell does have reservations, however. "Everything is going for him but motor racing is a fickle sport," he told sportasylum.com. "He hasn't made a mistake yet. He's only human and he will make one - hopefully not this year. "If he keeps his head then the percentages of him winning the world title are very much on his side. "He has done marvellously so far and it has been brilliant for British motor racing. But I am not going to compare him with Ayrton Senna or Michael Schumacher. There's a long way to go before anyone can consider that."
Not yet, at least. I think Mansell is expressing the common sentiment on this board; Hamilton has ungodly talents, but you don't become a legend in your first year in F1. Sustained excellence is what separates the legends from the good drivers. He has a long way to go before he can really be mentioned among the legends. That said, he fits the bill and I won't be surprised if we're talking in superlatives about this guy over the next 5 years.
LH is making F1 history so to predict or compare is not a issue he is making his own benchmarks .. A rookie now needs to win a gp x2 within 6 races and no lower than 2nd on the podium correct me if am wrong ??
If this were a TV mini-series Alonso would put sugar in Hamilton's gas tank or stick bananas in his exhaust pipes. (Just kidding, of course.) It looked to me like Alonso slipped on the old banana himself a few times in turn one. F1 is truly a wonderful sport.
And yet Alonso set fastest race lap, did he not?? People see what they want to see. Alonso has dealt with a fast teammate before in Jarno Trulli and his drive against Schumacher at Imola in 2005 was as good as any I have ever seen. This is not a driver who gets "rattled" under pressure. Alonso is still the man to beat for the 2007 WDC, as far as I am concerned.
He has a reason to be rattled, don't you think? It would be easier if LH was on a different team, but if he does come out on top at the end of the year, what does that make Alonso? Does he become a second string driver? Because even though he is not, it will make him look that way. Both drivers seem to be a complete package and cream of the crop. But let's face it, Ron Dennis has fostered Hamilton's career. All things being equal, that would make me really nervous if I were Alonso. I don't think I'd be ready to pass my knowledge on like MS seems to be doing with Massa. As suggested, I'd be looking for some sugar and bananas.
