Been there, done that.... Didn't work out too well as I recall. I'm honestly not sure any more. He's quick, sure, but seems more & more like he's 'damaged goods' to me. I could very well be wrong, but I don't think he'll get another title. He's going to fade into the background and disappear back to the slums in Stevenage. IMO, Honda would be much better off going for young Danny Fiat, VB, or even possibly your young countryman! Cheers, Ian
Apparently there is a new boy on the scene, generally crashing around, doing dumb things and pissing people off. Maldanado is not alone with this condition.....Grosjean went through his learning curve after a sit down by the FIA, perhaps it would help here...
That's a big call Ian, I'am not sure whether to post mark it, for future reference, you do like claws n all...don't you Seriously you cannot just lose a inherent driving talent like that, can you.
It's certainly very possible I'll be eating much crow - Possibly even this season! As has been said, it's not over till the fat lady sings. It's not that he's "lost" the ability, he remains damn quick. But I'm starting to think he doesn't have that "something" of the true greats; not sure what it is - Mental makeup? Intestinal fortitude? Calmness under pressure? To me anyway, something is missing. Again, I may very well be wrong. "This is why we watch". Cheers, Ian
Funny, that's what I was thinking also; I just wrote in the other thread that I watched an interview of him on the french TV on Sunday, and I had mixed feelings. He was the same Lewis that I like for being without second thoughts, his heart on the sleeve; but he was speaking about his tattoos, his religious beliefs, his bulldog, while we had a close-up of his ear-rings and I could'nt stop thinking that something is missing in his armoury. He is, in a way, disarmingly naïve, almost a young boy at 29. And I kept thinking that you got one or two strong sharks in that pool of Grand Prix drivers, and I'm not sure that he has the "Samurai mental dedication" that Alonso was speaking of one year or two ago. When Lewis tried to leverage his position by playing "mind games" with Jenson Button at McLaren, he lost; but if Jenson has the manners of a gentleman, I have no doubts that he also is no slouch at "war nerves", whereas I am not sure that Lewis can play these games. A question of "dimension", maybe? the "next step" that he should have climbed is somehow missing... He should swallow his pride, shut up, and let his driving speak, I guess. Rgds
IMO, Hamilton should STFU and win this championship. The first one with a new team is the most difficult but if he settles as #1 within Mercedes, with cars like this he will win 2 or 3 championships in a row quite easily. Does anybody remember now that in 2010 Webber was quite a match for Vettel? Hell, NO.
I get what you're trying to say...seriously quick chap, but he's not exactly level headed and it hasn't gotten better over the years. sure...in 2007 his first season he had a couple of moments of red mist which is acceptable. I'm pretty sure in 2009 he was doing quite well (not so good teammate he was always beating, obviously)...but then with Button it started to go up and down again when it wasn't quite the walk over (quite the contrary), then his emotional issues when his GF split with him (sure, I'd miss those fantastic tits to but keep your emotional problems at home, especially when you're paid 20+ million)... I could go on. Schumacher, Prost et all where much more level headed in handling situations. That said, Hamilton has a massive fan base. Honda surely wants a more well known driver than Kvyat or Bottas (although I'm sure either can carry the team easily, especially if it's a championship contender they can be very popular). They would need an obedient teammate for Hamilton though, one that puts up with his **** and move over when asked. Magnussen could maybe be that person.
Everyone seems to think Mclaren/Honda will be the next big thing...but it could also easily be the next big crap.....i still remenber the last Honda engine...and it wasn't a pretty sight!!
Saw that we'd posted pretty much the same "feelings" at pretty much the same time.... Great minds and all that? Exactly. It's impossible to define it, but I just don't think he's got it..... Maybe success just came too quickly and he figured it would always be so easy. He just doesn't seem to have matured the way the greats do. I'm not even sure it's "level headed".... He just doesn't seem to be maturing. I know many like him for that, "wearing his heart on his sleeve" and so on, but this is serious business, and leaking data and constant whining to the press just leaves me cold. Another +1. Those guys *never*, ever criticized their teams in public. Maybe the times have changed and twittering etc is the new way to go about it, but it just doesn't appeal to me. I respect him as a WDC, but I just can't warm to him. I hear you, but despite the BS on the podium this week I'm not even sure his fan base is that massive. He's popular in the UK, but us Brits love a "local" - At least until they get too successful anyway! Again, he burst on the scene and has the seemingly requisite tattoos & ear rings that appeal to some, but as Furoni noted, he just doesn't seem to have grown up any. I'm not a "hater", just can't bring myself to become a fan. Cheers, Ian
True, but you can make yourself unpopular to the right teams and LH is doing a fantastic job of that. To be fair to LH he didn't start this one but after the way he carried on at McLaren I don't think many teams are thinking "let's have another chat to Lewis" As for McLaren Honda. McLaren currently have by far the best engine and they are miles off the pace. Honda cannot fix that ... Pete
Oh good....I thought I was imagining that. I was sure I read that somewhere....which doesn't mean it happened
Was never a fan of Prost (my gf at the time had the hots for him ) but I'd accept the devil if it would bring Ferrari another championship
Fair comment. I was very wrong there. My bad. I'll go stand in the corner now. Emotions getting ahead of brain again.... Cheers, Ian
Geez you've made a few mistakes lately mate, I'll send you my "F1 for dummies" book Didn't help me but it gives you all the buzz words others here like to regurgitate
Lol the stuff some of you guys say... Lewis likes bulldogs and has tattoos? He talks about some if the things he likes and opens up as a person and that's suddenly immature? What kind of elitist crap is that? Who are you to say that a guy is immature because he has certain hobbies? Good god lol this has no impact on his driving whatsoever. What lewis is lacking is luck, pure and simple. Nico would be a good 50 pts behind if it were 1-1 reliability instead of 5-1. In the minds of the simple nicos luck is conflated with talent. Simply not the case. He's fast over a single lap but put other cars on the track and just like maldanado, it becomes a little hard for him.
Lewis, stop talking about yourself in the 3rd person. A few of us have a bit of an issue with your style. I personally wish you would drop the "gangster" (?) look, and I would say the same thing to many rap musicians too, and concentrate on the driving part not how you look. Good luck with the rest of the season Pete
Let's not forget the last time Honda were in F1, they were utter crap. I never understood why people have so high hopes that Honda is going to turn Mclaren's fortunes around. They are currently being supplied by mercedes, the best engine in F1, and they are just ****.
