Friday 9th May 2008

Hamilton: I Will Start Winning Again

British driver positive despite shaky start

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Lewis Hamilton is determined to start winning races again following a mediocre start to the season.

The British driver has had one win in four races so far but he is determined to get back on top, he said.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix, Hamilton said: ‘The longer you go without a win, the anxiety grows. As a racer you want to win.

‘I've tasted victory quite a few times, and that's what we're here to do. We're here to win.

‘As a driver when you join a team you need to be innovative, have lots of ideas, to have the initiative to keep on pushing the team and asking questions.

‘That's the bit I love about this job, so when it comes to the race and all of that comes together and you win, it's one of the best feelings.

‘But I've got so much belief. I really do believe in my team and my abilities, and I've no doubts we can do it.

‘Although it's easier said than done, I think this weekend we've a good shot.’

The British star also said that he preferred to be behind his main rival, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

‘It's better to be chasing. It's more fun,’ he added.

‘It's hard, a bit harder than leading, which just involves keeping your momentum, but chasing means you are constantly trying to go one better. It's more of a challenge.

‘I do relish it. Uphill battles are tough, but they're part of life and I really do enjoy a challenge.

‘I stand up to all challenges I get. I'm always looking to do my best, and to do it to perfection, not merely a good job.’

[Vooley]

Just a shame hes not as good as he thinks he is.

[C2HYM]

LOL, Couldn't have put it better myself Vooley.

[Logie]

Yup, trouble is its really up to Ferrari who wins the race. If they keep there cars on the track and trouble free, they can pretty much win all races (Masa and Raik)

[PhantomPH]

Logie said:

Yup, trouble is its really up to Ferrari who wins the race. If they keep there cars on the track and trouble free, they can pretty much win all races (Masa and Raik)

But IMHO that is not the drivers - it's the cars.

Bin refuelling (all cars are fuelled from start to finish and as such same weight) and allow as many or as few tyre stops as you like.

Simple.

I am utterly sick of hearing the in-car radio saying, "No need to overtake the guy in front - he has to pit for fuel in 3 laps". How is that good for the sport?!??!!!!!

[kevin ritson]

glol, lazy journalism at its best again. Mediocre? I bet half the grid would be pleased with a win in the first race and a competitive placing in the points. And that's just the ones who've been racing for several years...

Edited by kevin ritson on Friday 9th May 11:33

[MrKipling43]

Here come the n00bs with their Hamilton flaming... oh and there are the old hands right behind them.

I'll keep an eye on this one.

[fiesta86]

your right who cares, plus what he likes about the job is collecting his wages

[dkennedyvxt]

Vooley said:

Just a shame hes not as good as he thinks he is.

Really.....can't think of many other drivers that would have kept Alonso honest last year?!?!? He drives (on the whole) exceptionally well in any conditions and is still at the start of his F1 career.

Ok so he is slightly up his own ass but who wouldn't be in his shoes. That said...if he starts dating Danni Minogue then I will hate him.

[GraemeP]

I do find it depressing that I love all aspects of motorsport, yet despite never having the bike bug the best armchair racing for me is the Moto GP.

Touring car can be fun (although the rules seem to come from a different planet and change more than my moods), but unfortunately even with so many new drivers in the pack F1 is generally too un-eventful and lacks "true" racing nowadays.

I will still watch and cheer on Lewis though, nice to have a few brits to cheer on in a sport we could actually win!

[havoc]

What is it with the British?

When we've a crap contestant in a sport (Tim Henman and Jenson Button, take a bow), we get behind them and cheer them on. Yet when we get someone who is TRULY world-class, they get hounded and slated (Nigel Mansell can join this category).

LH is one of the best 3 or 4 drivers in F1 at the moment. Which, given his age and the fact that it's his 2nd season, promises a lot for the future. So kindly get off his back and lets see how he develops, eh?!?

[pistolp]

You're just jealous of someone so young and succesful which is sad

The guy is a legend and has made f1 exciting again because he is a genuine racer. Personally I think he is incredibly humble given the success he has enjoyed to date

As ever though its so British to knock people and its impossible to be pleased for someone else in this country. You only to drive around in a nice car to experience that

[PhantomPH]

Perhaps my memory is a little selective, but I don't remember 'Our Nige' being hounded or slated. he was pretty much hero-worshipped in our house, mind you!

[pistolp]

On another note, the car is obviously not quite up there yet. If there was something wrong with hamiltons driving he would not have been so consistent last year

[CypherP]

havoc said:

What is it with the British?

When we've a crap contestant in a sport (Tim Henman and Jenson Button, take a bow), we get behind them and cheer them on. Yet when we get someone who is TRULY world-class, they get hounded and slated (Nigel Mansell can join this category).

LH is one of the best 3 or 4 drivers in F1 at the moment. Which, given his age and the fact that it's his 2nd season, promises a lot for the future. So kindly get off his back and lets see how he develops, eh?!?

Couldn't have said it better. It really irritates me that some people have no understanding of what it takes to get to the level that these F1 drivers are. For someone as young and in-experienced in F1 as he is, he's taking it by the horns and doing everything he can to make a name for himself, which is something that anyone else would do in the same position.

I think his confidence obviously scares some people. If he were making a half arsed attempt with Mclaren you could forgive people for questioning his ability, but quite rightly having such a consistent first season and being nothing but confident in his ability as a young F1 driver, i have the utmost praise for him and all drivers like him.

[CypherP]

havoc said:

What is it with the British?

When we've a crap contestant in a sport (Tim Henman and Jenson Button, take a bow), we get behind them and cheer them on. Yet when we get someone who is TRULY world-class, they get hounded and slated (Nigel Mansell can join this category).

LH is one of the best 3 or 4 drivers in F1 at the moment. Which, given his age and the fact that it's his 2nd season, promises a lot for the future. So kindly get off his back and lets see how he develops, eh?!?

Couldn't have said it better. It really irritates me that some people have no understanding of what it takes to get to the level that these F1 drivers are. For someone as young and in-experienced in F1 as he is, he's taking it by the horns and doing everything he can to make a name for himself, which is something that anyone else would do in the same position.

I think his confidence obviously scares some people. If he were making a half arsed attempt with Mclaren you could forgive people for questioning his ability, but quite rightly having such a consistent first season and being nothing but confident in his ability as a young F1 driver, i have the utmost praise for him and all drivers like him.

[havoc]

PhantomPH said:

Perhaps my memory is a little selective, but I don't remember 'Our Nige' being hounded or slated. he was pretty much hero-worshipped in our house, mind you!

Was thinking more of the press with NM.

[C2HYM]

He's been racing for years, end of. Stop all this first season crap, every year the cars driving characteristics change with aerodynamic, tyre changes, engine changes etc so they're all in much the same boat before pre season testing. Yes he's a bloody good driver much like everyone else in F1, but he's made silly mistakes for someone who's been racing for years.

Last year he easily had the best car and this year doesn't. And boy doesn't it show.

[Alfanatic]

Vooley said:

Just a shame hes not as good as he thinks he is.

I think he's the real thing. If he manages a long career and manages to keep in top teams, he's a record breaker. If he think's he's even better than he actually is, he must think he's Skid Solo.

[CypherP]

C2HYM said:

He's been racing for years, end of. Stop all this first season crap, every year the cars driving characteristics change with aerodynamic, tyre changes, engine changes etc so they're all in much the same boat before pre season testing. Yes he's a bloody good driver much like everyone else in F1, but he's made silly mistakes for someone who's been racing for years.

Last year he easily had the best car and this year doesn't. And boy doesn't it show.

F1 these days can be unpredictable as ever, and i hardly think any of us are able to comment on 'mistakes' when very few/none of us have driven an F1 car, let alone sat in one.

I think you've also made a slight contradiction too. If the changes to the cars made every year are having an impact on Mclaren at present, then any 'mistakes' probably arent down to Lewis's abilities but moreso constant car changes that a relatively new driver is having to adapt to.

[havoc]

C2HYM said:

He's been racing for years, end of.

And of course an F1 car will be just as 'easy' to drive as those in the 'lesser' series, won't it?!? And he'll know all these international circuits really well, won't he?!?

C2HYM said:

Last year he easily had the best car and this year doesn't. And boy doesn't it show.

You know, I seem to recall a certain M. Schumacher struggling when he didn't have the best car too...you'd almost think it was the car that was the problem, not the driver!



I'm not a big F1 fan. I'm not THAT bothered who wins it this year (as long as it's not Ferrari, who I think have a corporate ego bigger than B. Ecclestone's!). But I think slating a very good driver for a few 'average' performances is out-of-order.
- When McRae made big mistakes and crashed, people didn't slate him for being reckless and out-of-control!
- When Burns drove consistently in his last couple of seasons and scored strong points but very few outright wins, people didn't slate him for not being a winner!

...so WTF is the problem with Hamilton???