Lewis beginning to incur my displeasure again.....

[Ecurie Ecosse]

My love/hate affair with LH continues ; )

I was starting to warm to him after he made some modest remarks following testing.

However, my pendulum of hate has started to swing again.

Even although McLaren has run a policy of equality between drivers from time immemorial, suddenly, with the arrival of Heikki, Lewis thinks:

"For me it's great, I'm almost seen as the leader of the team and hopefully I can do the job."

http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_300540...

Unless McLaren has suddenly drastically changed it's policy, this does smack slightly of Lewis becoming too big for his boots.

One only has to recall last season when someone else at McLaren made similar comments.

[FM]

A little confidence is not a bad thing when you nearly scoop the F1 title in your debut year I`d have thought...

[CommanderJameson]

When the flag drops, the bullshit stops. I'm very, very interested to see what Kovalainen can do in that car. I think (and hope) that Hamilton will be kept very, very honest by his new team mate.

I do think that Hamilton should perhaps be a little more considered in what he's saying to the press, though.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Or, to give LH the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he is using psychological tactics on Heikki.

A bit dangerous though, as comments like this will make Heikki more determined to beat Lewis.

[flemke]

The problem with this report is that is yet more journalistic garbage. The morons who write this crap deserved to be flogged.

Hamilton is quoted as saying:

"For me it's great, I'm almost seen as the leader of the team and hopefully I can do the job."

But then numbnuts author twists Hamilton's words into:

he also believes he could become the team's number one driver - a policy they actively distanced themselves from this year.

Being "leader" and being "number one driver" are totally different things.

"Leader" in the context in which Hamilton used the word connotes captaincy, taking pressure on one's shoulders, and having the greater share of a range of responsibilities.

"Number one driver" in the context in which the author used the word connotes getting preferential treatment from the team in everything from testing miles to pit strategy to T-car set-up to being allowed to overtake one's teammate whenever it suits.

[lanan]

But surely it is written down, so it must be true.

[Heebeegeetee]

So what is it you look for in a driver, EE, and has there ever been one who matches your critieria. Do you like motor racing, or are you more interested in the personalities?

[Ecurie Ecosse]

I do rate Lewis as a driver and I do enjoy motor racing.

It is his personality that grates with me occasionally. At the start of the season he was quite humble, but now is quite sure of himself. Nothing wrong with this in itself, but there is something about him which I can't take to. The ITV coverage doesn't help.

I think it's his lack of consistency in his comments and his insincerity.

However, he is relatively new to F1, and he has to tow the line at McLaren re public appearances (look how DC has blossomed in the fun stakes since he left) so as a New Year resolution I will cut Lewis some slack.

Perhaps it's a failing on my part, and I should just concentrate on drivers' performance on the track. However, with the coverage I do find myself having more exposure to drivers' personalities and forming likes and dislikes from what I see.

Just to clear some things up though:

1 It's not a Ferrari / McLaren thing. Although I do support Ferrari, Mika and Kimi (whilst at McLaren (and now of course)) are amongst my favourite drivers.

2 It's not a Scottish / English thing. I rate Jenson and enjoy listening to his views on the coverage. In fact, even when ITV had Jenson heavy content I liked him.

3 Please, no one imply it's a racial thing as it isn't.

Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Thursday 27th December 15:19

[groomi]

I'm fed up with the personality (or lack of) of the drivers being the most important deciding factor in who to support in F1. Once upon a time I followed the cars and teams because of how they looked, unusual/cool design ideas or just pure underdog privateers.

Now I just can't see past the cock behind the wheel - unfortunately LH included.

I'm leaning more and more towards Rosberg in the Williams. Partly because Williams deserve to get back to the top, partly because I'd love to see them beat ex-engine partner BMW, and partly because even though NR is probably as much of a cock as the rest of them, he generally keeps his trap shut and just drives.

Stop the cocks.

[Heebeegeetee]

EE, i have more to say but don't have time right now.

Is Jenson the only driver you like? Why do the drivers have to be humble, for you to like them. When you talk of Lewises personality, would you concede that you know nothing at all about his personality, and that all you know of him is what you've seen on TV? Would you say this gives an an insight to his personality?

You say lewis is now quite sure of himself. If you were that good, wouldn't you be?

For myself, the greatest sin a driver can perform is to not er, perform. I can't stand those who do not 'race'. Whilst Lewis continues to get stuck in like he has, he can do virtually no wrong for me.

Basically, i'd rather a driver didn't beat his wife or abuse his kids, i don't care what he does so long as he entertains. I mean, what else am i watching motorsport for? If ever i suddenly develop an interest in media 'personalities', i'll start reading hello magazine etc.

[RichB]

Heebeegeetee said:

I don't care what he does so long as he entertains. I mean, what else am i watching motorsport for? If ever i suddenly develop an interest in media 'personalities', i'll start reading hello magazine etc.

[tinman0]

groomi said:

Partly because Williams deserve to get back to the top

Williams deserve no such respect in my book. They dumped two British F1 champions and handed future championship to other people. The reason we've never really had a lasting legacy for a modern British driver can be put at Frank Williams feet.

They deserve to bring up the back of the field forever more as far as I'm concerned.

[Ian Davidson]

tinman0 said:

groomi said:

Partly because Williams deserve to get back to the top

Williams deserve no such respect in my book. They dumped two British F1 champions and handed future championship to other people. The reason we've never really had a lasting legacy for a modern British driver can be put at Frank Williams feet.

They deserve to bring up the back of the field forever more as far as I'm concerned.

I too was wondering why they 'deserve' to get back to the top?

Isn't this what F1 is all about? Working your way to the top?

[groomi]

Ian Davidson said:

tinman0 said:

groomi said:

Partly because Williams deserve to get back to the top

Williams deserve no such respect in my book. They dumped two British F1 champions and handed future championship to other people. The reason we've never really had a lasting legacy for a modern British driver can be put at Frank Williams feet.

They deserve to bring up the back of the field forever more as far as I'm concerned.

I too was wondering why they 'deserve' to get back to the top?

Isn't this what F1 is all about? Working your way to the top?

Yes, it is about working your way to the top. Williams are gradually doing this with a comparitively small budget, rather than getting embroiled in spying scadals or blowing huge wads of cash on distincly less than average performances.

Frank Williams is a hard man and has made plenty of decisions over the years which I don't agree with (Mansell & Hill for starters), but he runs a great team increasingly against the odds.

[flemke]

groomi said:

Williams are gradually doing this with a comparitively small budget, rather than getting embroiled in spying scadals or blowing huge wads of cash on distincly less than average performances.

Ralf Schumacher?
The Button contract nonsense?
The relationship with BMW, who have not done too shabbily since they went off on their own?

I'm not knocking them, just trying to point out that, at that level, no team has been without its share of dirty linen or fcukups.

[groomi]

flemke said:

groomi said:

Williams are gradually doing this with a comparitively small budget, rather than getting embroiled in spying scadals or blowing huge wads of cash on distincly less than average performances.

Ralf Schumacher?
The Button contract nonsense?
The relationship with BMW, who have not done too shabbily since they went off on their own?

I'm not knocking them, just trying to point out that, at that level, no team has been without its share of dirty linen or fcukups.

No dirty linen there, just some questionable decisions.

Regarding the BMW situation, I seem to remember their engines keep going pop when the drivers were putting in fairly reasonable performances. Amazing how as soon as they go it alone, the engines no longer go pop - couldn't possibly have been using a smaller team as a testbed could they?

[flemke]

groomi said:

flemke said:

groomi said:

Williams are gradually doing this with a comparitively small budget, rather than getting embroiled in spying scadals or blowing huge wads of cash on distincly less than average performances.

Ralf Schumacher?
The Button contract nonsense?
The relationship with BMW, who have not done too shabbily since they went off on their own?

I'm not knocking them, just trying to point out that, at that level, no team has been without its share of dirty linen or fcukups.

No dirty linen there, just some questionable decisions.

Regarding the BMW situation, I seem to remember their engines keep going pop when the drivers were putting in fairly reasonable performances. Amazing how as soon as they go it alone, the engines no longer go pop - couldn't possibly have been using a smaller team as a testbed could they?

I guess it depends on one's definition of dirty linen. When you scheme to get a driver to break his contract in order to join your team (which scheme was later ruled invalid by the Contract Recognition Board), and then you can't even maintain a relationship with that driver to get him to keep his word, it doesn't say a lot about the quality of your judgment or interpersonal skills.

Wrt BMW's using a smaller team as a testbed, BMW would have been more than happy to acquire Williams instead of Sauber. I don't see what would be wrong with starting with a couple of years during which you would spend 'only', say, $150M/year on F1 before you were ready to commit to twice that budget.

[tinman0]

groomi said:

Frank Williams is a hard man and has made plenty of decisions over the years which I don't agree with (Mansell & Hill for starters), but he runs a great team increasingly against the odds.

In my opinion, Williams run of bad luck started the moment they got rid of Hill. They booted Hill out for the insufferable Villenut, who became world champ, and then did a runner. They got ed by the guy they fawned over and they thoroughly deserved it.

I used to be a big Williams fan, but the moment Hill got the boot i transferred to McL. McL stand behind their world champions, not throw them out.

After Villenut they just seemed to of lost their way. I can only imagine that after Hill the team were not happy, maybe they went in other directions, maybe they just couldn't be arsed.

[Tony 1234]

RichB said:

Heebeegeetee said:

I don't care what he does so long as he entertains. I mean, what else am i watching motorsport for? If ever i suddenly develop an interest in media 'personalities', i'll start reading hello magazine etc.

X2

Tony

[ph123]

Don't agree with you.
I don't really care about his personality and if he proves to be the fastest, the most aggressive and consistently runs at the front, then it's job done.
(Fact is, he's a lovely guy, but he knows what he wants, how to get there which will mean determination. And apparently that's what you guys don't like. With respect, you sound like a bunch of poufs. Just like you couldn't cope with Schumacher. Doubtless in order to win, he will display character traits that will incur more of your displeasure.)
For entertainment, I'd turn to the pit girls.