Is Lewis Hamilton the greatest of all time, why or why not?

There are only a few sites I go to on line. For cars, it is here and the Alfa Bulletin Board. When this thread popped up again, compared to all the new stuff in F1 to talk about, I just had to comment. I am hoping that Haas' difficulties push the team into the arms of Andretti. That could eventually move them out of the Ferrari B team role with a different engine supplier. Not sure if Renault has the staying power. Maybe a new (or old) engine maker would step forward. BMW, Toyota, Porsche/VW, or even Ford.

 

Well, I hope not !! Haas may possibly fight against the odds and come back as a mid-field team as it was before.

I would much prefer Haas getting a good sponsorship than being taken over.

They need to beef up their technical team and also stop relying on pay-drivers; that costs money.

So I wish them all the best.

 

Gotcha'. I hope you didn't take my post too seriously.....I didn't mean it to be. I never mean to offend anyone. I'm on boards to have some fun, that's all.

Re; Michael taking over Haas, I wouldn't mind myself (not that I really care who owns a team). Gene could then concentrate on his and Stewart's NASCAR Cup team as far as I'm concerned. (no longer a NASCAR fan.....'used to be up to 3 or 4 decades ago)

 

I’ve seen a few argue that Fangio is the best driver of all time. Do we have anyone on the site that saw Fangio race live 60 to 70 years ago? Would be neat to hear from a Fangio fan that saw him in action live at the track.

 

One must be at least 80 years old to have seen Fangio racing. I am 72 and only went to my first GP in 1961, 4 years after he retired.

I think we can appreciate drivers we haven't seen racing. There are plenty of records about their achievements for us to form an opinion.

 

I agree. Gunther whatever his name is, just has not been successful. He has made bad choice in drivers, his design and engineering teams have failed to produce a strong car...and the results speak for themselves. He has to go, and there needs to be new heads to every department.

 

GOAT is the problem. Your mom might be the “greatest” at making cookies so this is why best or greatest isn't the way to describe what we are trying to say. But the most “successful” driver in F1.... only Lewis has over 100 wins which makes him the most successful driver ever in F1.

 

Gunther Toody?
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(F. Muldoon photo)

 

I saw Fangio drive an Maserati 250 F at Silverstone in 1987 - for 5 demo laps... but that does not count. Moss was in his RRWalker Lotus.... as well.

 

Did it ever occured to you that Guenther Steiner (that's his name BTW) had only a limited budget to run the same programme as teams that have (until now) almost unlimited resources.
Haas is unlikely to attract the best drivers, or unable to satisfy their financial demands.
Personally, I find it remarkable that an independent team manages to mix against the big names, and I hope they stay long enough in this game to progress further up the ladder.

 

If only Williams adopted HAAS's "out-source-everything" strategy with a limited budget..... unfortunately, Williams couldn't adapt to an ever changing environment.

 

IMO Williams still had in their head they are a top team (given their 2014 season where they build a fairly good car with an amazing engine, amplified that Mclaren build a ****ing shocker of a car). Add their pride into it, combined with Claire Williams at the helm, resulted in a catastrophe.

 

HAAS isn't getting any traction with outsourcing. Their Airfix approach (assembling things someone else made) is strange considering HAAS' business is...making things that make things.

 

Your criticism of Haas approach is well known on this forum, and you are fully entitled to have that opinion, of course. I find Haas' business model quite clever.

They are not "re-inventing the wheel", but buy and outsource everything that is readily available, in accordance with the FIA rules.

Team Haas have an input in the design of their car (for which they hold the IP rights), and are responsible for putting it together, as well as developping it.

To me they fully qualify as constructors.

 

I agree. the budget cap really helps the small teams as it limits all the major development work - but teams like Haas - can only spend up to X - and still have a profit. I Gene Haas is not stupid - the team has to cashflow. Ditching Urakali and Mazipin will likely cut down on who he afford to drive #2. I know Ferrari are no longer part of FCA - FIAT empire but it would be great to see Maserati come in with the same kind of sponsorship Alfa is doing ... and pay for the driver.

 

Oh I agree....it is however a survival business model in F1....not a winning one....but survival given their budget constraints.

 

If Guenther is so great, why haven't better teams hired him? Haas now knows that it takes more than he's willing to spend to be a serious contender in F1. He should get out and take a nice tax write off, and give the team to Andretti and let them show what they can do with it.

 

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on Andretti to run an F1 team out of the gates......let alone having the money to buy one and start from scratch.

I don't put much faith in Andretti,.Michael namely, running or buying an F1 team.

 

I'm suggesting Haas GIVE the team to Andretti. Haas has only proved one thing...he doesn't belong in F1. For Andretti to succeed, it's all about who he picks to run the show under the Andretti name. Time for Mick Schumacher to look for a new career and let the team find some real racers.

 

HAAS is currently looking for a driver with experience for the rest of the season.

What HAAS needs is a driver with money.

 

100 was inevitable, with more races per season and unprecented car reliability.


+ Bottas as team mate

 

A) Once again, that's where percentile comes in......

B) Also, "unprecedented" because it's mandated for the sponsors and show.....

 

C) Bottas is not a Top10 driver

 

I think what HAAS needs is to be willing to spend some of his own money. A driver with talent is more important than a driver with money. Giovinazzi
was slow in the Alfa...he won't make things any better in a HAAS. The Hulk reminds me of an over the hill prize fighter who gets pick up matches because
he still has a fighter's heart. But he always gets beaten. HAAS needs to find and own the next Verstappen. But that will take looking outside of F1.

 

Gene Haas is spending his own money and doesn't want to burn anymore of it. F1 is an expensive sport and he just doesn't want to risk more of his wealth to be a member. Uralkali appeared to be his fire escape but that's gone up in smoke(sorry). Haas needs an angel investor to buy-in and eventually buy him out.
Hulk is not yet over the hill and doesn't "always get beaten". He outperformed Lance in the Tracing Point. He's turned down drives at Haas in the past and has no interest in driving the dog of F1.