Lewis Hamilton's First Formula One Season

[Bazz]

What a great drive by Lewis, 2nd place in his 2nd GP! [^] ...and a great win for Fernando Alonso. McLarens first one/two since 2005. Looks like the makings of a great season.

[Neil]

Totally agree Bazz and I am very impressed with Lewis, although I do worry that the British Media might be building him up to be something he isn't, yet!!.

Yes he has had a good start to his F1 career but he has a very good car and I think if you had put any of the current field in his seat they would be getting similar results, had he being in the McClaren last season I doubt his performances would of been so noticeable.

Still, look like a good few battles throughout the field, lets just hope Honda get themselves sorted and give Jenson a bit more of a chance.

Neil

[Darren Wheeler]

The lad is shaping up well.

As you say, hopefully he's not being built up too much as well know how the press will soon knock him down.

I thought last season when he was racing GP2 that this guy would be excellent in F1 but never in my wildest dreams did I think he would be this good!

I think he is going to make an awful lot of money out of all this- if he markets himself correctly...which he has done so far....he could be the Tiger Woods of F1.

[Bazz]

Saw his dad interviewed after the race and he said they were hoping for maybe fifth or sixth place in Oz, so having got a third and now a second, he was a bit scared! He had the trophy and was obviously cock-a-hoop with the result. Seemed like a really nice and very supportive guy.

[Bazz]

Bahrain - well here go again, his third GP and another second place - this guy is so together and driving like a veteran! How long will it be until he gets his first win? Massa had a point to prove and drove a superb race, full credit to him. Alonso must be really pissed having been held to fifth place.

Now whilst some might think that Football is boring I cannot ever get excited by Formula 1 - we run the catering at Oulton Park and some of the races there are very exciting - partiucularly last weekend in the Volkswagon cup where only VW's could enter - one too b;oke entered his VW van - the commentator loved it and the van came 5th I think!!

So how much do you think its down to the car and how much the driver - would Schumaker have won so many races if he had been in a lesser car than the Ferrari?

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by MarkJ


So how much do you think its down to the car and how much the driver - would Schumaker have won so many races if he had been in a lesser car than the Ferrari?

Michael Schumacher won his first two championships with Bennetton

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by MarkJ


So how much do you think its down to the car and how much the driver - would Schumaker have won so many races if he had been in a lesser car than the Ferrari?

Michael Schumacher won his first two championships with Bennetton

Sorry to Mrs Schumacher!!

[:w]

[Neil]

Originally posted by MarkJ

So how much do you think its down to the car and how much the driver - would Schumaker have won so many races if he had been in a lesser car than the Ferrari?

I think you are spot on Mark, I made a similar point earlier in the thread and I am convinced it has an awful lot to do with what car you drive. Different manufacturers have good and bad seasons and irrespective of who the driver is that team will, more than likely win the World Championship. Yes you have to have a certain amount of skill but I am sure that any of the current field would do very well in either the McClaren on Ferrari.

[HighFlyer]

I think you could tell that from when Damon Hill moved to Arrows from Williams. Same stellar driver, but not a chance at pole position. I haven't watched F1 for a long while now but used to be a huge fan of the sport.

Thanks,
Sarah

[Bazz]

It would be foolish to say that the car is not important, it is obviously very important, having a competitive and reliable car under you makes a tremendous difference.

The thing with great drivers as opposed to good drivers is that they can usually turn in good performances even when faced with inferior tools of their trade.

Now I am not saying that Lewis Hamilton is yet a great driver, he has to do a lot more yet before being elevated to the ranks of Senna or Schumacher but from what I have seen of his performance so far in the practice and in his three GPs and the bits of his racing I caught from his F2 days he would appear to have the makings. Alonso is another who could be counted in that company in years to come. There are others in the current pack who show the determination, tenacity and courage to be great but may not have the hardware this season.

Originally posted by Bazz
It would be foolish to say that the car is not important, it is obviously very important, having a competitive and reliable car under you makes a tremendous difference.

The thing with great drivers as opposed to good drivers is that they can usually turn in good performances even when faced with inferior tools of their trade.

Now I am not saying that Lewis Hamilton is yet a great driver, he has to do a lot more yet before being elevated to the ranks of Senna or Schumacher but from what I have seen of his performance so far in the practice and in his three GPs and the bits of his racing I caught from his F2 days he would appear to have the makings. Alonso is another who could be counted in that company in years to come. There are others in the current pack who show the determination, tenacity and courage to be great but may not have the hardware this season.

Spot on Bazz!

Referring to your last point, Jenson Button comes to mind...and he has his own set of problems to add to his dilemma!

I was racing karts the same time as Lewis. He was in cadets at the time and I was in seniors but we were at the same meetings.

At that point he already had the McLaren backing but you could see why, he was a cut above the rest of his age group then, the same confident person you see now, but never cocky as happens to a lot of drivers coming up.

He's going to do v.v.well this year!

[Bazz]

Thanks Andy, he definitely has the potential to be one of the greats, you have driven with him and recognised it, I have been watching motor racing for forty+ years and can recognise it. I'd better shut up now before I get in real trouble.

[Darren Wheeler]

I know it's early days but he has the potential and is in a position to at least finish high up, if not win the drivers championship. IMHO he has done more in 3 races than Button has ever or will ever do.

The car/team has a lot to do with it but in my view its down to the driver- it isnt about driving a car fast- its about how well you do in the turns, how you have your car set up etc. Schumacher was an excellent driver- always good even in his early days at Jordan.

I think the proof of how good Lewis is, is in the fact that last year he raced in GP2. In GP2 all the cars are identical and yet, still in his first season, he managed to win the championship. He even came from the last position on the grid in Turkey all the way up to 2nd.

The team also has a huge role to play. Traditionally the team with Adrian Newey on board has always done very well. And it certainly isnt all about money- look at Toyota, they have the largest F1 budget by a country mile and still cant win.

He's certainly resparked my interest in F1.
Consistency is what wins championships. He could come 2nd or 3rd for the whole season, and so long as the bloke coming first is different more often than not, then he is in with a good chance.

I too however am a strong believer that it has more to do with the team and the car than the driver. However, a great driver will build a great team, and a great team will have an eye for a great driver.

What i would love to see in F1 is an end of season "Musical Chairs" perhaps swapping the highest placed drivers to the lowest placed team for a few races..... Just to answer the question of "is it the car or the driver"

[Bazz]

Barcelona, 4th on the grid, second place in the race, leading the world championship and has set a new record being the only F1 driver ever to be on the podium in each of his first four races! What a driver he is! [y]

Congratulations to Massa and Ferrari, brilliant win. Condolences to Alonso he should have done better and probably would have but for that first corner coming together with Massa and his resultant off. Well done also to Coulthard with his fifth place.

[Bazz]

Originally posted by PVGSLF
He's certainly resparked my interest in F1.
Consistency is what wins championships. He could come 2nd or 3rd for the whole season, and so long as the bloke coming first is different more often than not, then he is in with a good chance...

Ahh, you hark back to the Le Professeur - Alain Prost, what a driver he was, never had the spark of Senna but consistent, oh yes.

Another great drive by Lewis, and well done on his madien victory. [^] [^]

[Bazz]

Absolutely Fantastic, what a drive!

[Darren Wheeler]

Beginning to wish I'd put £100 on him earlier now. [:#]

Great result for Lewis and watching Sato in the Super Aguri overtake Alonso in the final stages of the race made it all the sweeter...

Best car or not, Lewis obviously has a special talent.

Best car? Surely that would be the ferrari, if you'd have believed them prior to the race (Montreal suited for the ferrari, blah, blah). ;-)