"There's nothing you can do that can distract me. You can keep on giving me penalties and whatever you want to do and I'll keep battling and try and come back with a result," he added. Hamilton thinks he did nothing to deserve the drive-through penalty, which followed another controversial decision involving a McLaren driver this weekend, when Heikki Kovalainen was moved back five places for blocking during qualifying. "I stayed out of trouble and drove what I thought was a fair race," Hamilton said. for me, this is not the same Lewis Hamilton that started the 2007 season. he was so cool back then, so laid back, honest, etc. right now, he keeps acting innocent, no sportsmanship, never admit he's mistakes, etc. he definitely has the talent to be a multiple WDC, but i surely hope he won't change to become an arrogant person.
LH is feisty and talented. But don't forget Anthony is also wearing those same overalls - which can get a bit TIGHT inside when there's two of you.
A TV-movie in the making. How many times have we seen this in bad racing films?: The family member that got you to the top, but is a burden once you get there. Between his dad and Ron, and a year with a whinging Alonso, I think "the Ham" is getting all the wrong messages about what it means to be an F1 driver. I don't expect we're going to see a lot of "James Hunt" style candor from Lewis, any time soon. I also feel bad for Heikki, who seems to be an afterthought with both the press and the team.
I'm becoming less and less impressed with him. While I don't deny his driving skill, his attitude leaves a lot to be desired. For someone who threw last season away in spectacular fashion trying to win the race and not the season (not to mention WDC) he just needs to grow up. He also needs to get his dad out of the garage. How many other drivers have their agents all in the garage? (Just curious) That doesn't help my impression of him either.
Forgot to add: Watch him come out and say today "Well my team didn't tell me I had to give up the spot......" once again blaming someone else.
Throw in a "I am going to let my driving speak for itself! After I babble on about this everyday until the next race!" along with "I don't think it's fair, but I'll take it, everyone is so unjust towards me. " Plus the "Everything that is happening to me just makes me ten times stronger! You will all see!"
"...Uh...Uh....I'm rubber and you're glue...no, that's no good...Damn....It was like that when I found it!...NONONO, that doesn't make sense...quick, what was in daddy's talking point notebook...think...think...THINK"
Hamiltons problen is that he believes his own BS. Once he is in the middle of the pack of cars he folds like a cheap camera. If he is out front and he has a team member behind him to do all the work, then he can win.
i don't really think you can make it in F1 unless you have his attitude and believe that you truly are the greatest and are never wrong, i think it's in the nature of any talented athlete to be like this. LH sure has been making some mistakes this year but it surprises me that people on here don't recognize how talented he is regardless. I consider him to be the 3rd best driver on the grid which says a lot about his potential when you factor in how young he is. I also think it's a lot easier to make silly mistakes when you're running mid-pack, take massa or even alonso for instance. the only person who i think runs really well, despite not having the lead, is raikonnen.
It has been proven the Hamilton has an issue with basic racing protocal. For instance what does a red light mean and also driving across the chicane to pass another car. The Stewarts are catching on to his lack of driving knowledge and they now watch him closely. Lewis is his own worst enemy, maybe he should admit to his screw ups and quit blaming it on others, then he will become a driver and not a spoiled boy. I would rather see Jenson Button in his car.
LOL ... I like it all together ....Where critic's know the way, but can't drive Thanks Brian, for this thread, one to keep a for a re-visit . +100 I can't believe the fickle nature of some folk on here..
LoL..no worries Steve! anyways, i recognize that he's one of the most talented driver out there. but, i think, he keeps saying things like blaming others, not himself, and ' i'll be back much stronger, u can't take me down' stuff. he's getting the impression that the stewards are going against him. Nico Rosberg can be a man, and admitted he's mistake. yet Hammi blames the team, the traffic light rule, and insist that he was racing fairly, altho he jumped the chicane to overtake a rival. I for one, hopes he grows up quickly, and get he's act together. i just hope he won't become another JV.
I never thought he was the second coming of Senna or Schumacher, again, not to say he will not mature and become a great. I still do not think he is this today. Let's forget that Hamilton had the 2007 WDC in his pocket, but he blew it. I am really disappointed in his attitude this year. When people slammed him as being arrogant, I defended him. But how can you not blame yourself for running into the rear of a stopped car in pit lane? That wasn't immaturity, that was just STUPID! Apparently in order to maintain his pass on Vettel, he had to cut the chicane, thus a legitimate penalty, so why the "poor me" crap? Perhaps if Hamilton was mature, and patient, he would have waited for another chance to pass Vettel? As it is, in France he demonstrated his immaturity by constantly locking up his brakes, nearly taking out his own teammate, and subsequently bringing on a race penalty that cost him a podium. Lewis Defenders: Keep in mind, if this penalty was not deserved, you would have seen McLaren with protest in hand before the end of the race. But you didn't, because the people at that corner could see Hamilton's mistake. So could Ron Dennis I am still waiting to see this greatness some of you speak about. The kid has earned his place in the spotlight, but those around him need to stop forcing the spotlight on Lewis.
About the time he figures it out, maybe F1 can inherit Marco Andretti. He's already showing great potential for filling the void that would be created by LH moving along in either developing some level of maturity or leaving the sport.
Hamilton certainly has great driving talent but he needs an attitude adjustment. Due to entering Formula 1 in a top team with a fantastic car (and a great development driver as a partner), he immediately bought into his own hype. Had he started in a bottom rung team, showed that he had the skill (which I think he does) and worked his way to a top team, then I think his attitude would be completely different today. As it stands today, he comes across as too cocky, believes it is his God given right to be the champion and truly believes that nothing is his fault (rear ending a parked car, passing on the chicane and my favorite moment from last year, parking it on the kitty litter entering the pits).
Despite Lewis Hamilton's griping about recent media "negativity," the British press stepped up the pressure after the McLaren driver on Sunday failed for a second consecutive race to score a point. Fleet Street analysts of the Magny-Cours race criticised the 23-year-old not only for his run to tenth place due to "impetuousity" that netted him a drive-through penalty, but also for his apparent loss of composure in the French circuit's paddock. "Lewis Hamilton turned into Le Sulk (...) as he sparked a witchhunt controversy," the Daily Mail wrote, after the Briton initially refused to speak to the media but then blasted F1 officials for penalising him for his illegal passing move on Sebastian Vettel. The Times called France his "lowest of the low points," as Hamilton succumbed to yet more errors but then hit out at the "crap" being written about him by the very reporters he was addressing. "There's a lot of crap coming out. That's what they do: build you up and then break you down, but they can't break me," he said. "Regardless of what's written in the papers, I will go back to the workshop, push with the team, focus on the next race and hit'em hard." The Daily Express newspaper was not amused with Hamilton's assessment, dismissing it as "completely wrong" and captioning a photo of him with the words "Off in a huff. " In a reference to his treatment, Hamilton declared: "There is nothing you can do that can distract me. You can keep on giving me penalties and whatever you want to do and I'll keep battling and try and come back with a result." The Daily Express argues that "Troubled times have come for Lewis Hamilton," and the Daily Telegraph agrees: "If discretion is the better part of valour, Hamilton could do with a dose." The Evening Standard hit out at Hamilton's initial refusal to talk to the press on Sunday, commenting that Hamilton's "image of sporting integrity is in danger of exploding for lack of sound advice." The newspaper was of the opinion that "this sudden persecution complex and petulance does him no service," adding: "He needs to take responsibility for his mistakes." Attitude aside, the British press was also unimpressed with Hamilton's performance at Magny-Cours. The Times said his illegal pass on Vettel was an "overaggressive" moment of "adrenaline-fuelled impetuosity."
1) I think Hamilton did make the pass fair and square before the corner, and IMO giving him a drive through was BS. He was already out in front after the pass and leading into the turn. IMO the rule is supposed to be about (and has ALWAYS been applied as such) short-cutting the chicane and passing a guy as he goes around the chicane. Hamilton did not do that - he was already in front, and got squirrely under braking and went over the curb to avoid a crash. IMO it was a bad call 2) As for managers in the garage... well, Willi Weber used to always be in the Ferrari garage, and Todt's son was frequently in the Ferrari garage too. Hamilton's dad just gets more coverage, IMO. 3) As for what happened last year, it was hardly all Hamiltons fault. It was his team that forced him to keep going on tires that were literally shredded and falling apart, and it was his team that forced him to inexplicably use a 3-stop strategy when a 2-stop would have won him the WDC. I honestly and seriously think that Max had something to do with that... McLaren is not made up of stupid low-IQ people. There is no explanation for the 3-stop race that handed the win to Kimi. I think McLaren had been told that if they win, they will suffer for it. No proof of this at all, just my feeling on it. 4) As for the Lewis hating, ironic that no other driver gets as much BS as this guy. Could it be because he is *that* good? He has made some stupid mistakes that have cost him dearly... but so has Sato, Massa, Glock and lots of other drivers, yet the angst and hate of the site seems to get focused on Hamilton like a laser beam.... I wonder why!
If he starts battling with the press he is on a loser ..As I have said before the Brit press love to hype you up, because they love bringing you down faster, I feel sorry for him it could mentally wreck a great talent.
+100 Mike, thats how I saw it but, the response was I must be mad, not a problem with that, but it got worse, he is now Anthony wanker Hamilton... to some on here ...
As I have said time and time again, he has admitted fault, said sorry to Kimi, why is it you need to see blood where are these quotes where he is blaming everyone else post them here ..! As far as I can see/read if he say's the team didn't tell me about the light, its on the other side in this race, well that could be true. But Oh no, that translates to he is blaming the team!!!..crikes he just stating a fact ,only a total idiot would think it wasn't his fault, it's that much of a glaring error on his part ...ok have a laugh with it , sure it's a mistake just like the many mistake other drivers have like, Massa spinning early on. What makes anyone here think Lewis' on track actions are decided by what he reads in rags/press...? And why on earth does he have to justify his actions to anyone else bar the people he has effected, as far as I'am concerned he should give two fingers to the press and say nothing , look at the bloke running the FIA before you get on your high and mighty moral horses.
If this were the case, then it would be very easy for someone to never brake before any chicane, they would easily pass the car in front of them before turn in, blow the chicane but gain a position. You don't need to make the pass by cutting the chicane, you need to not gain an advantage by cutting the chicane. If Hamilton could have possibly made it through that corner on track, Vettel would have easily regained his position, as Hamilton locked up his brakes and got all out of shape and off line (and in this case, probably taking out Coultard). The penalty was fair, but his team should have told him to give back the position.
Mike....Hamilton went into the corner too hard and used the short cut to save himself. That is a penalty. Anyone can drive a car hard on the ouside of the first turn while the guy on the inside has to brake or hit the passer. Lewis went in and passed with too much speed and he knew it so he took the shortcut to save his azz. Therefor a penalty is applicable. Lewis is going to fall out of favour with many people if he does not start to own up to his mistakes and move on. Alonso and Montoya were the same way and look where they are now. Mr Anthony Lewis has to find another job before he completely screws up his sons career. When the cameras first panned to Anthony's sour puss, I didnt know if they were showing his face or his sphincter.
