Lewis Hamilton
Discussion
Trabi601 said:
Schumacher was comprehensively beaten by Rosberg, too.
So I don't think we can read too much into that.
Sadly, the Mercedes dominance and Ferrari / McLaren under-performance has robbed us of any real comparisons between the WDCs currently racing.
Schumacher was well beaten by Rosberg for the simple reason that MS was well past it when he came back. Worst move he ever made in my book, even though some of his on track moves were pretty damming.So I don't think we can read too much into that.
Sadly, the Mercedes dominance and Ferrari / McLaren under-performance has robbed us of any real comparisons between the WDCs currently racing.
Rosberg is/was a good driver, but, not in the 'top flight'. Current top 3 are (in no order) Hamilton, Alonso and Ricciardo. Soon to be joined by Verstappen (if he becomes more consistent in temperament).
Discounting driving ability for a moment, if Hamilton has spent the winter building and integrating his own dream team of staff for his side of the garage as you would expect (based on his experience with the team over the past four years), Bottas could find himself subject to the double whammy of being the newcomer and enjoying the butt end of the reliability as Hamilton did last year.
Even if that is not the case you can guarantee 2017 will be a real test of Bottas' Mettle. He has been fairly anonymous but I am looking forward to seeing how he does. Regretfully I feel that one year in the team will not be enough for him to up his game to the same degree Rosberg eventually did.
The prospect of a battle of the titans at Mercedes in 2018 is a tantalising one but on the other hand I'd love to see what Bottas can do if Mercedes get behind him properly and perhaps extend his contract ASAP.
Even if that is not the case you can guarantee 2017 will be a real test of Bottas' Mettle. He has been fairly anonymous but I am looking forward to seeing how he does. Regretfully I feel that one year in the team will not be enough for him to up his game to the same degree Rosberg eventually did.
The prospect of a battle of the titans at Mercedes in 2018 is a tantalising one but on the other hand I'd love to see what Bottas can do if Mercedes get behind him properly and perhaps extend his contract ASAP.
Bunfighter said:
The best Merc can do is get behind LH 100% then bin him in 2018.
I'm a Lewis fan. He needs one more title then off to a new challenge.
If he can get titles with three different teams he's the best IMO.
I'm not sure Mercedes would bin him but I do reckon Hamilton will go and do something else in the near future, perhaps even taking a sabbatical. I also think there's a possibility that Mercedes won't win the constructors this season. I'm a Lewis fan. He needs one more title then off to a new challenge.
If he can get titles with three different teams he's the best IMO.
LDN said:
I think Bottas is a better driver than Heiki and he may fare well against Lewis. As for Hamilton leaving F1 - or taking a sabbatical; it could happen by it seems the hunger is still there...
I don't think he's leaving any time soon. I can see him moving to Redbull or Ferrari though to finish his career. ELUSIVEJIM said:
Bunfighter said:
The best Merc can do is get behind LH 100% then bin him in 2018.
I'm a Lewis fan. He needs one more title then off to a new challenge.
If he can get titles with three different teams he's the best IMO.
I would not be so quick to write off Bottas.I'm a Lewis fan. He needs one more title then off to a new challenge.
If he can get titles with three different teams he's the best IMO.
I do agree that Hamilton will be looking to leave after this season 'if' he gets another title, not to take a break but to replace Kimi at Ferrari....
HustleRussell said:
Discounting driving ability for a moment, if Hamilton has spent the winter building and integrating his own dream team of staff for his side of the garage as you would expect (based on his experience with the team over the past four years), Bottas could find himself subject to the double whammy of being the newcomer and enjoying the butt end of the reliability as Hamilton did last year.
Hamilton will spend the winter break partying, chilling out and doing his fitness program. The team personnel will do their thing.jsf said:
Hamilton will spend the winter break partying, chilling out and doing his fitness program. The team personnel will do their thing.
Tis interesting as I started following most drivers with social media accounts over this winter.Hamilton seems to come in for a lot of flack specifically for his extracurricular activities and perceived time away from the factory etc, but his winter doesn't exactly seem to be dramatically different to any other F1 driver happy to be in the public eye.
Doing cool/interesting sporty things in exotic locations - check
Working out, lots - check
Promotional stuff - check
I appreciate that all of this is through the filter of whatever they decide to share, but in general it would seem (understandably) that people with a ton of disposable income, lots of time off the day job and a need to keep extremely fit tend to do broadly similar things.
What is clear is that Hamilton would appear to have negotiated a pretty easy going contract with respect to activities he is allowed to take part in away from F1. I know some drivers have mentioned serious restrictions on anything perceived as vaguely risky (McLaren, mainly) in the past, but Hamilton seems to have a pretty good work/life balance going on in that respect.
Bunfighter said:
He was lauded, a capable driver with potential. I see some parallels.
There are paralells...but you are sort of presenting it as evidence that Bottas is de facto s
t.Give him half a season and if he is flailing compared to your idol I will be prepared to agree.
But I am willing to give him that half a season to give it a go...
Motorsport.com: Hamilton calls for an end to "unfair" intra-team data sharing. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIw9omqrDQ
Agree with Hamilton there. Engineers sharing the data from both cars; fine. Drivers shouldn't be able to look at their team mates data. I'd they can't figure something out, then that's their failing. They shouldn't be able to look at their team mates data in hope of the answers.
Agree with Hamilton there. Engineers sharing the data from both cars; fine. Drivers shouldn't be able to look at their team mates data. I'd they can't figure something out, then that's their failing. They shouldn't be able to look at their team mates data in hope of the answers.
Otispunkmeyer said:
Motorsport.com: Hamilton calls for an end to "unfair" intra-team data sharing. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIw9omqrDQ
Agree with Hamilton there. Engineers sharing the data from both cars; fine. Drivers shouldn't be able to look at their team mates data. I'd they can't figure something out, then that's their failing. They shouldn't be able to look at their team mates data in hope of the answers.
If he wants an individual sport, then perhaps F1, particularly at Mercedes, isn't for him.Agree with Hamilton there. Engineers sharing the data from both cars; fine. Drivers shouldn't be able to look at their team mates data. I'd they can't figure something out, then that's their failing. They shouldn't be able to look at their team mates data in hope of the answers.
Sharing driver data has been part of F1 for decades.
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