There are Hamilton Fanboys and there are F1 fans.

[whatxd]

Z3MCJez said:

PS Schumi was to be hated unless you loved him, in which case Hill put his car in the way and he was defending against Villeneuve. Barrichello didn't have to go to the pit lane side, and he genuinely made a mistake in Monaco and couldn't recover (I can't remember Barrichello '02!). Me - I think he was a cheat, but his reputation will be saved by the terrible accident he had in Meribel, thus making it hard to remember his nasty side. And he was pretty successful overall. I wish I'd supported him!

Despite his indiscretions, I was a massive Schumacher fan and his accident is not relevant at all other than my hope that he can one day make a recovery. I got into a rather heated debate with someone about this on here a few months ago.

Basically, I liken Schumacher to Luis Suarez. They are both brilliant and blatant cheating on a few occasions does not change my opinion on that. Let's not derail this thread though

[Black_S3]

I think he's picked up quite a few Justin Beiber fans... Certainly seams to be the same mental age. Go try defend Nico from getting slated over on DM and your post gets reported by enough people with in minutes to have it removed for moderation.

ETA I have nothing against Lewis. Fan boy types claiming he's the best F1 driver to have lived when he's barely halfway through his career etc is what causes the majority angst against him.

Edited by Black_S3 on Thursday 28th July 21:46

[threespires]

Jasandjules said:

I rather like the way Lewis seems genuinely pleased at his support. I mean, ever seen an F1 Driver attempt a crowd surf?

I also have heard (though I know not how true) of stories about Lewis interacting with fans behind closed doors, and being late for things because he doesn't rush them and spends a LOT of time with the kids etc I expect it is true!

I agree. He took the time to show g/son around the AMG Motorhome yesterday.

[hora]

Don't post positiveness. The haterz will explode

[clarki]

Hamilton's exciting. F1 doesn't have many exciting characters. Either on or off track. It'd be much duller without him.

Montoya was too.

[CABC]

Z3MCJez said:

glazbagun said:

I don't understand how anyone could actually be a fan of Schumacher. By all means he was a great driver and competitor with some legendary drives, but after Hill '94, villeneuve '97, Barrichello '02 & '10, Monaco '06, who'd want to cheer that? He's like the Donald Trump of motorsport.

Fixed that for you.

Let's leave politics out of F1. Apart from F1 politics of course.

Jez
PS Schumi was to be hated unless you loved him, in which case Hill put his car in the way and he was defending against Villeneuve. Barrichello didn't have to go to the pit lane side, and he genuinely made a mistake in Monaco and couldn't recover (I can't remember Barrichello '02!). Me - I think he was a cheat, but his reputation will be saved by the terrible accident he had in Meribel, thus making it hard to remember his nasty side. And he was pretty successful overall. I wish I'd supported him!

My theory: MS was undoubtedly a great driver, but he was allowed to become bigger than the sport. He deliberately crashed into Hill and Villenueuve and received no meaningful penalty. The sport looks stupid when it penalises Button to be 'even more last' but gives no meaningful punishment to someone clearly steering his car into another against any normal racing line. I may have crossed a couple of decades there...
Schumi played the game, and played it well. Not the game i want to watch tho.

[Hungrymc]

There have been times when Lewis has annoyed me a little away from the track. Less and less the case as he seems to have matured hugely and is generally more comfortable being himself. I'll never share his fashion sense but then I don't have to in order to like him as a driver.

Now this is the weird bit.... I'm warming to Nico too. This new ruthless Nico is pretty good for the sport (even if he slips into being the panto villain from time to time). The Pit Pass interview from today was a good example of him being baited by the interviewer (Buxton?) who desperately wanted to create more Lewis / Nico friction. I think both drivers came across well and Buxton was the dick.

I also liked Mansell - was a massive fan, but I was very aware of the talent of Senna. And though I loved seeing Nigel win, I loved watching Senna do his thing as well.

I do struggle a little with the clear number one status that some drivers have had. It really changes the landscape when there isn't real competition within the team - not sure it's fair to blame the drivers though as the teams ultimately allow it / cause it.

But then you get this thread title, and the fact that as soon as you say something positive about Lewis there is a small group that start screaming fanboy - which I find ironic as its hardly a balanced response and it's certainly not mature to resort to dubious name calling.....?

[rubystone]

I think Nico is a decent bloke. Very intelligent, good sense of humour. Way too intelligent to get caught by the crude traps the media lay for him. And he's a very good driver. It's his bad luck that he's up against one of the most naturally gifted drivers in the history of F1. He's right to ignore the hyperbole and general noise surrounding Lewis. It's the only strategy for mounting a successful campaign.

[Leroy902]

The op seems to have quietly crawled back under a rock after realising the thread never went in the direction he was hoping

[Derek Smith]

Hungrymc said:

There have been times when Lewis has annoyed me a little away from the track. Less and less the case as he seems to have matured hugely and is generally more comfortable being himself. I'll never share his fashion sense but then I don't have to in order to like him as a driver.

Now this is the weird bit.... I'm warming to Nico too. This new ruthless Nico is pretty good for the sport (even if he slips into being the panto villain from time to time). The Pit Pass interview from today was a good example of him being baited by the interviewer (Buxton?) who desperately wanted to create more Lewis / Nico friction. I think both drivers came across well and Buxton was the dick.

I also liked Mansell - was a massive fan, but I was very aware of the talent of Senna. And though I loved seeing Nigel win, I loved watching Senna do his thing as well.

I do struggle a little with the clear number one status that some drivers have had. It really changes the landscape when there isn't real competition within the team - not sure it's fair to blame the drivers though as the teams ultimately allow it / cause it.

But then you get this thread title, and the fact that as soon as you say something positive about Lewis there is a small group that start screaming fanboy - which I find ironic as its hardly a balanced response and it's certainly not mature to resort to dubious name calling.....?

Thanks for the post. I agree with everything but the warming towards Nico. I'm sensible. I know that without a driver as good as him in the other Merc we'd have a dire season up front. (I'd love to see Vettel in his seat though.) I think part of it is that he is predictable. If it rains you know his challenge is over.

I think a lot of it was Monaco. Him bringing out the yellow flag cost LH the pole. It was as a deliberate act as Schumacher's, I have no doubt about that. I should let it go but I've ended end up in the silly position of wanting NR to put in a challenge but not wanting him to be successful. If it was Vettel going for the lead against LH, I'd be happy whatever the result as long as it was exciting.

I'm old enough to recognise that I'm being rather childish and, much more shameful, illogical. However, I am also of the age where I can't be bothered to sort it out in my brain.

[Jasandjules]

What annoys me is there are times when I really quite like Nico, then other times when he is frustrating. For example, losing the WDC due to a car issue BUT congratulating Lewis and not acting like a spoilt child, was to me quite impressive.

Then we have Monaco.........

Lewis however I like on track, I like his interviews. I like the way he is firm but fair and fast as f**k with super car control. And if there is an overtake, he is going to at least try..... I really don't see what is not to like, he's even British!

[hora]

Schumacher? I see him in the same light as Armstrong. Forget the '7' bit. Both wouldn't have won if they'd have stayed 'clean'. Remember the black flags?

Damon should have been a double champion at least. How many more were robbed of F1 titles?

Sorry, it's sad what's happened but we'll never know the full truth. Will we.

[Disastrous]

EnglishTony said:

Including the one that said "Don't ski here"

I'm pretty sure where he was just a section of off-piste, rather than a completely closed area, so no such rule would have been in place.

It's being pedantic, yes, but off-piste skiing is a well accepted part of regular skiing so it seems a bit mean to blame his accident on recklessness or rule-breaking.

[whatxd]

hora said:

Schumacher? I see him in the same light as Armstrong. Forget the '7' bit. Both wouldn't have won if they'd have stayed 'clean'. Remember the black flags?

Damon should have been a double champion at least. How many more were robbed of F1 titles?

Sorry, it's sad what's happened but we'll never know the full truth. Will we.

BS. One of the worst posts I've ever read on PH

[Sylvaforever]

whatxd said:

hora said:

Schumacher? I see him in the same light as Armstrong. Forget the '7' bit. Both wouldn't have won if they'd have stayed 'clean'. Remember the black flags?

Damon should have been a double champion at least. How many more were robbed of F1 titles?

Sorry, it's sad what's happened but we'll never know the full truth. Will we.

BS. One of the worst posts I've ever read on PH

Not really, he's just highlighting the cobblers reign over F1 wasn't as clean as some would like it to be remembered.

[cgt2]

Sylvaforever said:

Not really, he's just highlighting the cobblers reign over F1 wasn't as clean as some would like it to be remembered.

But the questionable moments were far outweighed by the sublime ones. I'll never forget standing next to the barrier in Monaco in 1996 (the days when you could blag your way into such places) and being amazed how Schumacher consistently brushed the barrier with a cigarette paper width consistently every lap throughout the weekend in the dry.

Every other driver was at least an inch away if not more.

[Sylvaforever]

cgt2 said:

But the questionable moments were far outweighed by the sublime ones. I'll never forget standing next to the barrier in Monaco in 1996 (the days when you could blag your way into such places) and being amazed how Schumacher consistently brushed the barrier with a cigarette paper width consistently every lap throughout the weekend in the dry.

Every other driver was at least an inch away if not more.

For many, many people his reign was and remains tainted at both team and personal levels.

[hairyben]

Derek Smith said:

Thanks for the post. I agree with everything but the warming towards Nico. I'm sensible. I know that without a driver as good as him in the other Merc we'd have a dire season up front. (I'd love to see Vettel in his seat though.) I think part of it is that he is predictable. If it rains you know his challenge is over.

I think a lot of it was Monaco. Him bringing out the yellow flag cost LH the pole. It was as a deliberate act as Schumacher's, I have no doubt about that. I should let it go but I've ended end up in the silly position of wanting NR to put in a challenge but not wanting him to be successful. If it was Vettel going for the lead against LH, I'd be happy whatever the result as long as it was exciting.

I'm old enough to recognise that I'm being rather childish and, much more shameful, illogical. However, I am also of the age where I can't be bothered to sort it out in my brain.

Theres nothing childish about wanting to see someone punished for cheating/unsporting behavior.

My amusement at seeing alonso end his days working so hard for so little probably is though.

[Catatafish]

I enjoy watching Lewis on track. I don't care so much for the other media stuff, so I don't consume it. It's a radical notion...

[37chevy]

Catatafish said:

I enjoy watching Lewis on track. I don't care so much for the other media stuff, so I don't consume it. It's a radical notion...

Indeed

The scroll button or X in the top right of a computer screen is a wonderful feature that allows people to no see things they don't want to....but hey that's too easy, people like to bitxh and moan instead!