Stewart's take is an interesting one...
Discussion
From Autosport...
Stewart: Hamilton can afford to lose title
Former world champion Jackie Stewart reckons Lewis Hamilton could actually benefit from losing this year's title.
With a four-point lead going into this weekend's deciding race at Interlagos, Hamilton has a strong chance of becoming the first rookie to win the Formula One crown.
Stewart said he hoped Hamilton clinched the championship in Brazil, but added that it would not be a disaster for the 22-year-old Briton if he lost out to Fernando Alonso or Kimi Raikkonen this time.
"It wouldn't be the end of the world if he didn't win it, but I really hope he does it," said Stewart while promoting his new autobiography.
"I don't think it would be a disaster. It would be a hell of a disappointment for him, but it wouldn't do him any harm.
"He would learn and it would give him more time to distil what has happened this year."
Stewart also believes that the PR commitments that Hamilton is likely to face as champion could prove draining.
"If he wins the championship he could have a worse winter," said Stewart. "It's going to be a busy winter anyway, but at least he won't be touring countries around the world.
"By the time I got [to be champion] I knew how to do that. I was having breakfast in Brazil, lunch in Venezuela and dinner in Colombia. Niki Lauda did that too. And we were already mature guys, but it was still exhausting."
The triple champion added that Hamilton's retirement from the Chinese Grand Prix was an example of how his driving would improve with experience - as he suspects a more established driver would have insisted on changing tyres sooner.
"After I'd won the world championship in 1973 and we went to Montreal, I thought I had a tyre with the canvas coming through," Stewart recalled.
"Think back to Lewis in China. I came in because I didn't think I could risk it disintegrating. It was actually paint on the tyre, but I didn't know that. I was imagining it wasn't handling as well. I couldn't take the risk.
"If Lewis was three years older he would have made the call. You can't go from kindergarten to university. No disrespect, but he hasn't yet got the confidence to say 'hey, the tyre might explode'.
"He nearly went off the road anyway and he was losing masses of time. We all saw it. He would have made that call as a more mature driver."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know that most of the Lewis fans out there will say why do we always knock the brits when they are up, but I think coming from a triple world champion and one who's been around a while now, his take is certainly interesting.
I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
Stewart: Hamilton can afford to lose title
Former world champion Jackie Stewart reckons Lewis Hamilton could actually benefit from losing this year's title.
With a four-point lead going into this weekend's deciding race at Interlagos, Hamilton has a strong chance of becoming the first rookie to win the Formula One crown.
Stewart said he hoped Hamilton clinched the championship in Brazil, but added that it would not be a disaster for the 22-year-old Briton if he lost out to Fernando Alonso or Kimi Raikkonen this time.
"It wouldn't be the end of the world if he didn't win it, but I really hope he does it," said Stewart while promoting his new autobiography.
"I don't think it would be a disaster. It would be a hell of a disappointment for him, but it wouldn't do him any harm.
"He would learn and it would give him more time to distil what has happened this year."
Stewart also believes that the PR commitments that Hamilton is likely to face as champion could prove draining.
"If he wins the championship he could have a worse winter," said Stewart. "It's going to be a busy winter anyway, but at least he won't be touring countries around the world.
"By the time I got [to be champion] I knew how to do that. I was having breakfast in Brazil, lunch in Venezuela and dinner in Colombia. Niki Lauda did that too. And we were already mature guys, but it was still exhausting."
The triple champion added that Hamilton's retirement from the Chinese Grand Prix was an example of how his driving would improve with experience - as he suspects a more established driver would have insisted on changing tyres sooner.
"After I'd won the world championship in 1973 and we went to Montreal, I thought I had a tyre with the canvas coming through," Stewart recalled.
"Think back to Lewis in China. I came in because I didn't think I could risk it disintegrating. It was actually paint on the tyre, but I didn't know that. I was imagining it wasn't handling as well. I couldn't take the risk.
"If Lewis was three years older he would have made the call. You can't go from kindergarten to university. No disrespect, but he hasn't yet got the confidence to say 'hey, the tyre might explode'.
"He nearly went off the road anyway and he was losing masses of time. We all saw it. He would have made that call as a more mature driver."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know that most of the Lewis fans out there will say why do we always knock the brits when they are up, but I think coming from a triple world champion and one who's been around a while now, his take is certainly interesting.
I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
motormania said:
I know that most of the Lewis fans out there will say why do we always knock the brits when they are up, but I think coming from a triple world champion and one who's been around a while now, his take is certainly interesting.
I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
These are all fair points.I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
The problem is, if Lewis were not to win this year, the winner would be either Alonso, who has seriously disgraced himself, or a good driver who has tainted himself by driving a Ferrari.
flemke said:
motormania said:
I know that most of the Lewis fans out there will say why do we always knock the brits when they are up, but I think coming from a triple world champion and one who's been around a while now, his take is certainly interesting.
I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
These are all fair points.I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
The problem is, if Lewis were not to win this year, the winner would be either Alonso, who has seriously disgraced himself, or a good driver who has tainted himself by driving a Ferrari.
skinny said:
flemke said:
motormania said:
I know that most of the Lewis fans out there will say why do we always knock the brits when they are up, but I think coming from a triple world champion and one who's been around a while now, his take is certainly interesting.
I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
These are all fair points.I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
The problem is, if Lewis were not to win this year, the winner would be either Alonso, who has seriously disgraced himself, or a good driver who has tainted himself by driving a Ferrari.
skinny said:
flemke said:
motormania said:
I know that most of the Lewis fans out there will say why do we always knock the brits when they are up, but I think coming from a triple world champion and one who's been around a while now, his take is certainly interesting.
I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
These are all fair points.I think 'The Cock' would cry all winter if Lewis didn't win, but I kind of agree that in a way Lewis has had too much too soon and we all know where that tends to lead...
This year has been fantastic for Lewis and if he didn't win, don't panic because he has years ahead of him. Senna took several seasons before the championship came his way and so to did most, and that has never effected them has it?
I think the other negative point to Lewis winning this year will be an even more OTT media hype coverage next season and already there are some who are finding this years media scrum painful to watch.
The problem is, if Lewis were not to win this year, the winner would be either Alonso, who has seriously disgraced himself, or a good driver who has tainted himself by driving a Ferrari.
You know, drugs, booze and women?
I can see him getting into women (pun intended), but not drugs and booze
gtr-gaz said:
Are you saying that such sudden fame could send him off the rails like some "pop" idol?
You know, drugs, booze and women?
I can see him getting into women (pun intended), but not drugs and booze
Jenson Button when starting F1 said..... F1 wont change me, I'll be the same as I ever was You know, drugs, booze and women?
I can see him getting into women (pun intended), but not drugs and booze
Jenson then dumped his gf, moved to Monte Carlo and dated a super model.
Lewis Hamilton when starting F1 said.... F1 wont change me, I'll be the same as I ever was
Lewis then dumped his gf, was rumoured to have shagged about, and almost definately shagged the racist slapper off Big Brother, and is talking about moving to Monte Carlo, or to where Shumi lives.
I'm not knocking them too much..... I would too
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