http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_3702265,00.html Bernie Ecclestone rates Fernando Alonso as the best Formula One driver currently on the grid, and believes Lewis Hamilton would be no match for Robert Kubica if the Pole was driving a Ferrari or a McLaren. The Formula One supremo was asked to give his current top five F1 drivers by The Times' F1 Blog and this is how he rated them: Alonso, Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, Kubica and Felipe Massa. Ecclestone also believes Alonso would've outperformed Hamilton if he was still at McLaren. "If he was still in a McLaren he would be showing Lewis the way home - I don't think there is any doubt about that," Ecclestone said. "I never asked the guy - I'm going to ask him one day - when he signed for McLaren, whether he was told he was number one. Because if he didn't ask and he wasn't told, he would have assumed he was. Having a guy that's never been in a F1 car in the team with him, he'd expect to be number one wouldn't he? http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_3702265,00.html On Hamilton he said: "The difference with Lewis is that, last year he didn't have to prove himself because he was the new kid on the block and he wasn't expected to finish a race. This year, people say he should have won the World Championship last year, and therefore he's under pressure to make sure he does it this year." BMW's Kubica is currently leading the Drivers' Standings after seven rounds and Ecclestone has no doubt that he is in a class of his own. "If you saw him in a McLaren or a Ferrari, I think I'd put my money on him blowing away Hamilton," he said.
Alright, Im not huge into F1, but wouldnt this be like David Stern picking the Celtics to win the Finals before the playoffs begun??? Why the hell would the commissioner or whatever Ecclestones title is say something like this???
Didn't Lewis drive against Alonso in matched cars? All these guys (Kimi, Alonso, Hamilton, Kubica, etc.) are fantastic drivers. Some are better in some areas with some equipment than others, and there is always a great deal of chance thrown into the mix. This type of speculation is about like predicting the weather.
The difference is guys like Bernie are on the grid every race, and have privileged information coming directly from the teams. I find it interesting that a British citizen would actually go public without making Lewis a diety in their comments. I actually agree with Bernie on most of this. Alonso is one of the current two best, the other being Raikkonen. And I would put Kubica, Massa up there as 3 and 4. I do think Kubica is better than Hamilton, but I am not saying that Hamilton is not up there also. Just for now, for me the jury is still out on Lewis. On his driving that is, he seems to be a very personable young man. The BMW is not completely on par with the McLaren, yet Kubica is putting it up front consistently. I wonder how Lewis would do in a secondary car like the BMW? That is where I agree with Bernie, Kubica would likely blow him away. Alonso, Raikkonen, and Kubica seem to have natural talent, Massa has had to work hard to be where he is at, that's one reason I like him, he is really trying with his heart and its working. Lewis has been handed the best car on the grid, much to his liking and his driving style. Yet he has blown away many opportunities. Not sure what to make of him as of yet.
It's interesting to hear that from someone who doesn't follow the sport. I think you're right on the money--why would the head of a sport make a statement like that? I wonder what BernieCo would say if one of the drivers started spapping on and on about how So-and-So would make a much better president of the FIA, or how Formula One would be in better hands with Whosamadoody at the helm.
I still think Bernie is just trying to stir the pot because simply he is in the position that he can do so.
Bernie knows that in F1 the show is as much off the track as it is on. He's just stirring the pot. But he's also entitled to his opinion but sometimes I believe people like BE change their opinions depending on the situation at hand. Would he have said the same thing about Kubica a year ago?
My problem with this is the way F1 is supposed to be the superior motorsport series, super exclusive. It subscribes to the world's elite, and all that jazz. The head of the series should conduct himself accordingly (So should Max, but that's another thread). To me, that means not opinionating on the participants like any punter at the tavern. It's one thing if he says "I'd really like to see (Driver A) in the Ferrari. I think it would be fabulous for the sport." But to say that Driver A is better than Driver B crosses the line of what's professionally appropriate.
Technically Be isn't the head of the sport. He's the commercial rights holder. Mosley through FIA is head of the sport. Doesn't make things any better though
Like a previous poster said, Kimi and Alonso at the top, with Hamilton, Massa, and Kubica as the second tier. Third tier would have Heidfeld, Coulthard, Trulli, and a maybe a couple of others. Then the rest are grid fillers that might get lucky with a podium or points on occasion. In the best car, any of the top five could be WDC, while in the best car perhaps 2/3 of the field would be capable of winning a race or two. Besides outright speed though, their ability to work with the team and make a good car into a great one is what separates the Michael Schumachers from mere championship winners. None of the current drivers have his capacity to develop a given car and more importantly, team for the next year's car. IMO this year and the next will be a turning point in Alonso's career. If he can get the Renault to the front, he might be MS-like. If he can't, then perhaps he isn't as good as he thinks.
I agree, the difference between them is the amount of costly error's made. Kubica has shown to be consistant this year, and is very impressive in a car not quite on the money.
I don't think he would blow him away, but I do think over the course of a season he would do better. Hamilton breaks under pressure to easy it seems to me...
Bernie is a promoter. All he is doing is stirring up a little controversy to promote interest in the sport. Bernie does nothing - nothing - that does not put a buck in his pocket. For the record, Hamilton would destroy Kubicka in equal machinery.
Lewis himself said last year during his rooke year, that Kubica would be the man to watch because he used to race with him and knows him. So whats the new news then?
Personally I think Kubica is the best driver between Massa, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Alonso. Its not because he has more talent, its just he is working harder than anyone else. Also you don't see him waisting time with all the gossip and drama that goes on with everyone else.
I think using the term "Destroy" would be quite optimistic. I also think the jury is still out on Hami. Kubica has shown to be much more mistake free. Conversely, Hami has shown to be mistake prone. Maybe a difference in maturity levels at this point in their careers?
Wrong. Heidfeld was only faster than Kubica in the first few races. It wasn't until after his accident did he start beating Heidfeld. Also it was Kubica's first full season in F1. Heidfeld had been with BMW 2 seasons.
+1 Hamilton is on a different playing field than Kubica. He is on the one only the likes of Kimi, Alonso and MS play. Let's not get carried away with the Canadian GP. BMW deserved their moment of glory. I hope they enjoyed it while it lasted. Kubica is a great driver, but not a legend in the making.
well that settles it for me then Kubika looked good last year but the car let him down, the car looked very good at the first race last year in qualifying and some good judges at the track were predicting good things from BMW, .......they were just a year out Hamilton's been on the Yellow Brick Road for a long time while a lot of these guys in F1 have struggled to even get their bum in a seat, and the CAR is 90% of the equation for the less informed You could put Sato/Sutil/Vettel in a Ferrari or McClunken and they would be at the front with a whole bunch of Monday experts talking them up Fancy commenting on anything BE "said" to the newspapers, I'm sure it was accurate and all in context and had nothing to do with the evil dwarf starting controversy
