Hamilton/Villeneuve

Yes.

 

Because it sells newspapers!

 

So the basic question is what's different about Lewis' situation that makes us think he's different than JV. Correct? Well, the most obvious answer, and you really don't need more, is take a look at their team mates. Lewis while also being in a top car was also partnered with the reigning two times WDC. JV was not. Take a look at the season and forget Lewis' performance against all the others and simply focus on his performance in equal machinery to Alonso and you'll see why many of us feel he's the real deal.

 

And if he didn't sell newspapers...

+1

 

Yes.

 

+100

 

Not just us but many, many F1 insiders as well.

 

Basically, this is the correct assumption.

 

I was convinced that he was great then I realized that he completely blew his WDC lead in the last 2 races. It'll be interesting to see if he doesn't choke again this year.

 

When I read the header, I believed this was going to be a Gilles vs. Hamilton comparison. Jacques never occurred to me.

 

Timo Glock was saying a few day ago that Hammy's success was down more towards technology than skill.

while i agree with the rest of the world that Hammy is certainly the person to watch, we also have to understand that as a rookie, he's had the best equipment ever, and one of the best team in F1. plus, the world was looking for the next Michael Schumacher, and came along Hammy. pretty much like 1994. Bernie thought the sport will collapse after the death of Senna, but then, came along MS.

 

Glock should STFU. He was a has been before he got his super license.

Yes.
BTW: Your comparison to Jacques isn't bad. Jacques was a revelation as well when he joined F1 (although he was already an Indy 500 and a CART champion at that time). If anything it is rather a mistery what happened thereafter. His falling apart as a driver was almost of biblical proportions and hard to explain. I still believe he had the raw speed and talent when he joined F1 and became WDC.

He didn't. His team did (on purpose?). They called him in too late for the tire change in China and made him do 3 pitstops in Brazil (as the only driver in the field). Go figure.

 

Well, he did drive his car into the gravel and did manage to put the car in neutral, even Felipe Massa doesn't do that.

 

You can't steer with not rubber on the tires left. Once in that gravel and no Mercedes friendly crane in sight as in Germany, there was no hope.

He would have still walked away with the title (and the mistakes he made at Brazil) if his team had given him a 2 stop strategy like everybody else.

You know I'm the biggest Kimi fan there is and was over the moon, but lets be realistic: Kimi got the title because he persevered, had luck and the McLaren team worked hard against their drivers. The more I think about it, the more I think the end was scripted after the Paris verdict. Kinda like "Loose the championship or we'll block you for 08".

 

As do I, McLaren would have known that Hammy needed to just finish those races to win the WDC but they lay that line of BS on us "Hamilton goes for the win". Can't wait till Kimi runs them all over this season.

 

Inside what, the loo? Gimmee a break.

I do not know anyone except the "know it alls" on FChat that are yet convinced that Hamilton is super. Not saying that he isn't, just that in all the years of following motorsports, there have many first year Hamiltons, and then somehow, suddenly, they become Ralf Schumachers.

You are all just guessing. The only way we will ever know Lewis' true skill is to see him a mediocre car. I am looking forward to seeing Alonso this year so I can finally make up my own mind about his super ability. I call this the Curtiss Turner Theory. In all my years of watching motorsports from in the friggin pits, the only driver I can call incredible is Curtiss Turner. He was crazy, but incredible at car control. Michael Schumacher, Senna, and Dale Earnhardt Sr are right up there.

If any of you are correct about Hamilton, I would be more than happy to admit the same. For now, it is all smoke and mirrors.

 

Maybe he'll find Massa's skill in their too

 

Andreas, that is a rediculous comment, there was rubber on the tires and he has a super licence which means that he has the skill to judge the level of grip he has ... thus he should have slowed to the right speed.

One day you will wake up and realise like I have that EVERYthing is now scripted in F1 and that is why I do not watch anymore. The whole selection of Lewis was scripted to get the British audience. MS winning for Ferrari was scripted ... yes it was because it was the money making drama that F1 needed, a German finally winning and Ferrari getting back to the top.

F1 is 99% show and 1% racing and that is why I don't watch anymore. You will stop watching when you face the FACTS and realise as you watch the start of every race that barring unplanned accidents that you already know who will win, who must win to maximise profits ... .
Pete

 

And keep in mind there is a million miles of difference between Ferrari and McLaren today, and 10 years ago it wasn't quite this 'bad'.
For everyone picking winners this year, I seriously doubt anyone will pick a non-Ferrari/Mclaren winner.
Maybe Alonso one in awhile, but probably not. And I even mean folks outside this website.

 

+ 1000. If Hammy needs someone to tell him that the tires are good/no good over a radio, as opposed to his own rear end telling him the tires are shot, then perhaps he has still much to learn...maybe he sould have told Ron to STFU in China as opposed to the Hammy/Alonso pitstop debacle in Hungary when he yelled at the team...and no matter what anyone tells me, Hammy hit the neutral button in Brazil and that sealed his fate...my 2 cents...FORZA FERRARI!!!!

 

It wasn't his fault, and I personally believe the FIA forced Mclaren to give the WDC to Ferrari.

 

good post remy. all true.

 

outside of our mutual love of the boxer...i don't always see eye to eye w/ ron but in this case, i could not agree more.

 

Ever heard of Frank Williams? Jackie Stewart? Niki Lauda? Alain Prost? You think they might know something about good drivers??

Ron, buddy, with all due respect, that is the single most ridiculous argument regarding Hamilton's talent I have ever heard, at least from someone who ought to know better.

He blew off the two-time defending WDC IN AN EQUAL CAR!!! That is all you need to know. That's it. end of story. It doesn't matter if he wins races or finishes 10th, it is all a question of how he fared against his teammate in equal machinery and the skills and capabilities of that teammate.

We will never know how truly great Schumacher was because he refused to drive alongside guys like Mika and Kimi. All we know is how he fared against midpack drivers like Irvine, Rubens and Massa. Guys like Senna and Prost drove alongside -and beat- reigning WDCs and that is why we know how good they are.

What do you need to see of Hamilton in a mediocre car? Do you want to see him outpace his teammte by a second or more a lap? OK, done. Now what? What have you learned? Oh, Hamilton is fast.

Yes, buddy, we already know that.

What I can't understand is how you question Hamilton's abilities, when he beat the reigning 2X WDC in the same car yet you somehow think a middling second-rate piker like Massa is WDC material. At least Hamilton can beat his teammate, for chrissake.

You need to either get off your medication or get back on it, brother. You aren't making any sense.