may be leaving http://sportinglife.aol.co.uk/news/article/22893/7540395/ecclestone-hamilton-might-leave-mclaren
Personally, when I heard that Hamilton had switched Management to an Entertainment Company, it was quite amusing. Too bad he didn't keep his father or someone like that who focused on racing rather then the Entertainment (Music and Movie) Business. As a Hamilton Fan, I only wish him the best.
Bernie liked Hamilton with his dad managing. Bernie's not a fan of LH's new management. LH was all over the place last season, because his head wasn't focused. I'm glad he and Nicole are together again, but LH needs to focus on F1, not glitz and glamour. This management team wants too much from Hammy outside of F1. And, that may be too much of a distraction for him this season. We aren't (well, I'm not) interested in Lewis the model. We are more interested in Lewis the F1 driver of McLaren. If he crashes into Massa just once, it will be one too many this season.
"May be leaving"? Bernie said nothing of the sort, despite the sensationalist headlines. What he actually said, when asked if he thought Hamilton would stay with McLaren his whole career, was: ""I think if he doesn't perform this year he'll be looking maybe to move on, and the team may also be looking for him to move on."" Lots of ifs and maybes in Bernies opinion, just idle speculation.
yes lots of if's and maybe's, although one of Bernie's strengths has always been judging the incoming weather well ahead. Should Hamilton fail to finish in the WDC top 3 this season I would not be suprised if he moves onto pastures new. It would offer him a great challenge to performing outside of the Dennis incubator/home after so many years, providing a real opportunity to shine with another team, as many other multiple WDC winners have done. 2012 is going to be fascinating, and I hope MS can also mix it up at the sharp end with a decent car underneath him.
Good advice from Brundle - http://planetf1.com/news/3213/7550808/Brundle-Time-For-Hamilton-To-Refocus
True enough, however its old news. If Ham had been driving the Red bull it wouldn't even be discussed, the car matters big time. IMO Hamilton ran into most of his problems when he found himself in positions he didn't feel he should be in, some his fault some not. Red mist and Massa, end result bad to worse, when he got to the front in qualy or near the front job done. Most of the drivers on the track last year were out to teach him a lesson, and that little party was headed up by Massa and his mate Shoemaker. The end result of this is the overtaking rules have been changed.
Say what you will but Hamilton and Massa provided some interest while Seb disappeared into the horizon.
I believe the only way Ham would leave is if Red Bull hunted him, and I cannot see that happening as it's clear Red Bull want a very distinct #1 and #2 driver when with Ham it would be a constant battle for the top nod. Unless Ham really shoots himself in the foot to the point that Mclaren doesn't want him and only a mid-pack team will have him, but I doubt it as Ham remains quite popular.
Yes indeed otherwise a few more punctures.. required Seb.. Ah yes, everything in life can be learnt from the game cricket..
Like boredom and tedium? I just hope that some of the preseason excitement carries over to the real thing. One of the teams may have found an RB killing wrinkle. Fingers crossed.
I am not trying to be argumentative but I have to disagree with the Red Bull analysis. I sure think their drivers have battled each other as much if not more than any other team on the grid in the last couple of years. I sure don't see Hamilton going to Red Bull but I also fail to see how battling Hamilton as a teammate would be any different for Vettel than battling Webber has been. I just think if Red Bull was wanting a clear one two they wouldn't have allowed the battles we all saw.
There was a time when your analysis would have held but after last season there is little doubt that Seb is an undisputed number one at RB. Be it team policy of just the level of talent it's his team. There's no way that Lewis would step into such an arrangement.
I was surprised by Bernie's comment about Vettel's success being bad for F1. Don't recall him saying similar when Michael was blazing a trail...'course, that was under the Ferrari banner...but WAIT - much of the Ferrari brain trust is now in the Red Bull stable, so doesn't that count? LH = toxic personality, so it would take just the right kind of 2nd driver(only ONE 1st driver on LH's team, righto?) to make it work, and I'd guess there ain't many such 2nd drivers(if any) in F1. Could it be that LH wasn't quite everything HE thought he was ???????????????
Many would suggest that when Alonso and Hamilton were together in 2007, that it was Alonso with the 'toxic personality" that couldn't handle another driver with equal status; it's well documented that Alonso demanded #1 status several times that year, and left because McLaren wouldn't give it to him. Further, in 2011, Hamilton definitely didn't have #1 status or treatment, he and Button got equal treatment and Button was more successful. Hamilton wasn't giving fits about that, either. I would disagree with your assessment about Hamilton requiring only ONE 1st driver on LH's team, since it's pretty obvious with Button that your suggestion has not been the case for at least the past 2 years.
Yes what, indeed. I honestly don't think LH wants to be a F1 driver as much as say Alonso, Webber or Coulthard even. He has a high degree of talent but has been fortunate all his career to have had the best equipment. It would not surprise me that he moved to another career as from where I sit he enjoys the fringe benefits and does not bleed "racing driver" like some others. Coulthard put his personal life on hold, Mansell did even more and so on. It was their life not just something they did. Pete
Alonso wanted number one status as he was signed as a number one, and had a novice as two. What he didn't expect was the intense relationship between Ron Dennis and Lewis where Ron, rather than let Lewis learn his trade, pushed for Lewis to challenge early, and let this fester. In the meantime, I am aware of a personal situation with Ron and alonso which didn't help the cause, and eventually all the little battles culminated in the breakdown of the relationship with Mclaren. Imagine if at your company, the CEO made you vice president in charge of development, but said, hey, teach this kid a bit about the business, I got him out of the ghetto and am grooming him, then every time you are in a meeting, it seems the development ideas you have are regurgitated by the kid in front your eyes, and accepted by the boss with glowing praise. Whilst the ideas you present are greeted with a 'I just expect you to provide this' attitude by the CEO Wouldn't make you feel like you mean much to the firm would it?
