Will Lewis Hamilton Be the Next Big Thing or a Disappointment?

Should put Spoiler in the title!

 

This article sums up what I and many more here have been saying for over a year.
I think he is an exceptional driver, but the media is his worst enemy

 

"Next year’s changes may cause problems for even the strongest teams."

Ummmm, why is this relevant? Obviously a stronger team can adapt faster to rule changes.

 

Williams Mechachrome was Jacques Villeneuve's undoing. He stuck with the team when they lost their engine supplier and his career died. He made a series of bad decisions that took away his stature in F1 while Michael Schumacher's was surging. I think he became a desperate driver by the time he was on the Sauber team...he felt he was a front-of-the-grid guy driving for inferior teams and had a bad attitude about it.

It's far too simple to say Jacques was a one-hit wonder. He made Jensen Button-like decisions which cost him a successful F1 carreer. I don't foresee Lewis driving for McLaren Mechachrome any time soon.

I was at the Sonoma IRL race yesterday speaking with some of the Historics drivers. Everyone of them concluded that Hamilton is a Senna or Prost-like driver (felt he more 'driver' than 'technician' like Schumacher was). They feel he is by far the best on the grid right now.

On an interesting note: One of the IRL team principles was talking to a group of us about how IRL needs to be innovative in developing technologies that can eventually transfer to our automobiles. When I asked him about KERS and how long it would take to come to IRL, his answer was "what is that?". Just a little ironic. (after I explained it a little, he did acknowledge 'oh, that thing they're developing in Europe')

 

Careful, some posters on here will be having apoplectic fits!

On second thoughts they'll probably shrug it off with the comment that "historic drivers' opinions are about as important as that hooker's opinion involved in Max Mosley's orgy, we FerrariChat guys know best."

 

Ha ha ...... nice one...

 

Totally

 

Well, I know of one journalist who must already consider him a legend.

I think Hamilton will continue to be a cornerstone driver in Formula 1 for quite some time. In one sense, he's already been the next big thing with his breakout rookie season and challenging again for a championship. He will be a disappointment if he fails to take a solid McLaren to the championship, especially if he continues to come close. I think he will win at least once and rank with the 1 and 2-time champs like Kimi, Alonso. He won't be the "Next Coming" of anything, but a talented driver who succeeds.

 

It's a great shame Steve. LH leading the championship, possibly going to be the next WDC - just think where he could have been without those "worst enemies".

 

A sensible contribution, although not one I personally agree with. From the evidence of the last few years and on the basis of the opinions of many who are well placed to know a good driver when they see one (and I give more credence to the views of current and former drivers than to MM's hookers and most of FerrariChat's armchair pundits) I believe he is exceptional and will go on to win quite a few championships, given a decent car. He's not going to be the next Senna or Schumacher, he's going to be the first Hamilton.

 

Whoa!! back of the net with that Ian, great post and a fair one from Jack(Gilles)

Your becoming the Brit SRTMike in my book.. SRTIan...

 

For anyone to suggest either way, that Hamilton will go on to win even one WDC, or that he will become another Jensen Button is just hypothetical guesswork.

There is no way as of yet to tell where Hamilton will appear in the history books. The end of this season will be very telling.

 

Absolutely, but the OP posed a question and I gave my opinion.

 

Your right to an extent, but he has surpassed JB already so thats illogical, ,in one and a half seasons he is a front runner again leading the WDC.

Besides he wouldn't be discussed as much on here, like him or not he is the talk of F1, and that will be in the history books.

And had Button been in a Ferrari for as long as Massa, he would be at the least the equal of him IMO.

Now where did I put that Flame suit..

 

You know if that were true, then where would Kimi be? If Jenson would be doing better than Massa, then Kimi would be even further behind. I don't think Jenson if capable of that. If we're talking about 2006 Massa, then yes Jenson would do better. The Massa of today is a different Felipe Massa, he's lighting quick, and he's on fire. I don't think Jenson has that raw speed, I mean he's getting beaten by old Rubens Barrichello.

 

No flame suit necessary, Hamilton surpassing Button is really not a relevant comparison, unless Button had been in one of the two best cars on the grid, which he has not, as Hamilton has been. And I do not see any way to factually suggest that Button would have been the equal of Massa had Button been in the Ferrari. Button could have ended up being like Raikkonen, having a difficult time getting tuned to a specific chassis. I don't know, you don't know.

My point was, is, at this time, no one knows how Hamilton will be remembered in history books, its all guesses based on personal prejudices. Jacque is still remembered in the history books, but NOT as people suggested back in the years he was racing F1. At first you read all sorts of comparisons to his father. Hamilton will also be remembered, but you guess if you try to suggest the manner in which he will be remembered.

There are those that think Hamilton will be remembered on the level of Senna. There are those that think he will fizzle. Right now, either one is possible. This past weekend, I even heard from a friend with serious contacts in F1 that suggested many people think that Hamilton will become desperate, and make a Gilles-like mistake. I have a feeling that is also possible.

I personally have no idea. My personal prejudices are well known, as long as Hamilton is in a McLaren, I wish him very good health, but really bad luck.

 

I think Lewis is exceptionally well

 

Villeneuve had the advantage of a car superior to everything else on the grid. However, Williams pretty much faded away the following years. Will be interesting to see what happens to McLaren (...or any other team on the grid), there will be a time when they'll struggle, and I wonder if it will prove to be a wise move by Hamilton to tie himself so closely to that team...

 

Jim I don't disagree twas a bit tongue in cheek my statement, but we would never Know, if JB had MS honing his race craft ...!!!

I think alot of drivers on the grid could do well in Mc or Ferrari, it would be nice to see everyone get a chance at least once.

 

Fair enuff ..IanMac put it right He's not going to be the next Senna or Schumacher, he's going to be the first Hamilton.

 

Well you have to put yourself in there position, Alonso knew when to jump ship from Renault, of course it went tits up at Mclaren for him, but had it not he would be sitting pretty if not for you know who!!

Point is JB is a prime example of getting it wrong, sometimes cogs fit into place and you go with the flow, sometimes they don't. LH sticking at Mclaren won't go far wrong IMO, unless the Greenies and the FIA change something drastic.

 

Steve, "greenies" is what we called nose boogers when I was about 6-8 years old. What is a greenie today??

 

Not sure why this is even a question: He was already the 2nd most successful rookie of all times in F1. So greatness is a given.

He is the new Prost/Senna/Schumacher. Just wait and see and count the WDCs he'll collect (although he won't touch MS' record).

 

I think that is the most critical point in judging him. He is the first driver ever to be groomed by a top team and to immediately enter F1 in the best car. We don't know how he would have performed if he had started in a Force India, or how Schumacher or Prost or Senna would have performed if they had started in the best cars of their time. I'm not saying he isn't a highly skilled driver, I just think it's unfair towards the 'old' champions to say he's on their level as the circumstances are completely different.