Hamilton's dalliance with 'pop culture'. Good or bad?

[deadslow]

Martin Brundle more or less says they guy has turned into a div in his latest Sky column

[mybrainhurts]

klunkT5 said:

Its what Lewis does in the race car that should matter.

Yes, it's a shame such a talent has turned into a tasteless numpty. Takes the shine off his life and achievements.

I'd like to be proud that he's British, but I feel more embarrassed than proud now.

[otolith]

I will just leave this here. I am only surprised that his website doesn't play some appropriate Euro poodle rock - a Scorpions track, perhaps, or maybe The Final Countdown.

[funkyrobot]

soad said:

His first song will be about Nico - Woman leave me alone...

Fixed that.

[funkyrobot]

e21Mark said:

I still prefer Hamilton to Plato.

Better handshake outside the dry cleaners?

[deadslow]

I'll raise you

[Jonesy23]

He isn't exactly the first driver to have a bit of a life away from the track. He's actually pretty tame in what he gets up to.

I think his problem at the moment is that he's giving the impression that his lifestyle is becoming a distraction, and also that people around him are starting to laugh at him for what he's up to. See for example the Wolff/Horner/Williams interview at the weekend.

The main thing is though is it's his life to do what he wants with, and if he walks away tomorrow he's still young, hugely wealthy and a triple world champion.

[NRS]

Munter said:

I've no problem with him having a personality. That's fine. And he makes a big thing out of his "personality", totally allowed and happy to let him. The problem is his personality stinks. It's a "celebrity culture" personality. It's like he's desperate to be famous despite being an F1 champ. Which is also fine. But why do people have a problem when it's pointed out that that sort of "personality" that seeks fame for fame's sake (over any actual achievement, despite having plenty) represents a lot of what's wrong with modern society?

That doesn't make sense really... He is a part of the celebrity culture BECAUSE he has achieved something. There are people in celebrity culture who have got there basically doing nothing, but there are lots there because they have done something (whether it is in music, sports or something else). I'm not really interested in it at all, but it's just like anything else - I don't complain about something I'm not interested in, I just don't bother checking out the thing (so don't bother with celeb magazines etc).

[Leroy902]

deadslow said:

Martin Brundle more or less says they guy has turned into a div in his latest Sky column

You're getting pretty predictable mate with your anti-lewis bashing...

You should really give your ass a rest.

[dudleybloke]

He can do what he wants. Unless he decides to try and be a pop singer, then we can hate him.

[ukaskew]

Interesting that there are more than a few digs at not generally how Lewis spends his free time, but very specific elements (his specific taste in music, his specific taste in clothes).

I dare say there seems to be a certain level of discomfort or misunderstanding of the first black F1 driver. I hazard a guess that the overwhelming majority here are not 20-30s and black. Some of the comments here are as cringeworthy as many here feel Hamiltons lifestyle to be.

The Ron Dennis comments are also interesting, Lewis has said it himself that it's precisely because he's been given more freedom at Mercedes that he is much happier out of and therefore in the car. McLaren are well known for the demands and control of their drivers on every level, clearly that doesn't work for everyone.

Edited by ukaskew on Thursday 3rd December 02:44

[glazbagun]

I don't know who Lewis' actual friends are, as opposed to the people he's photographed with. But I don't think that hanging around with successful celebs is inherently worse than hanging around with royalty or that a pop star is a worse choice of girlfriend than a model (based on my massive experience of course ).

I think the pressure of being a celebrity as opposed to just a racing driver probably brings some distractions regarding the press intruding on your private life, but there's not much he can do about that now. In any case he can cry into his 3xWDC titles lying on his bed of millions if he needs comfort.

[anonymous-user]

While I can agree he is good race driver, for me his life style leaves a great deal to be admired, he is not some one I would want my children to aspire to be. It is not enough to say that what he does on the race track is all that counts, he is public personality and his life style matters. Having encountered him on a couple of corporate occasions he is not some one I admire and his personality reduces/distracts from my enjoyment and admiration of his undoubted skill, but I accept that my opinion will effect him not in least.
Brundles statement on sky that 'the boy from Stevenage was a better driver than the LA rapper' sums it up.

[NRS]

Berw said:

While I can agree he is good race driver, for me his life style leaves a great deal to be admired, he is not some one I would want my children to aspire to be. It is not enough to say that what he does on the race track is all that counts, he is public personality and his life style matters. Having encountered him on a couple of corporate occasions he is not some one I admire and his personality reduces/distracts from my enjoyment and admiration of his undoubted skill, but I accept that my opinion will effect him not in least.
Brundles statement on sky that 'the boy from Stevenage was a better driver than the LA rapper' sums it up.

However DC says the opposite - that Hamilton has been able to find himself more and so is able to relax a lot more than he used to. So who is right? It seems strange that little has changed in regards to his lifestyle since winning the championship and yet it gets brought up to explain the last 3 races? It's just a reason people had already decided and they used the last few races to "prove" it. It's much more likely he just lost a little focus after winning the championship and/or that this season is difficult to overtake a similar car and so with Rosberg not making silly mistakes like before then Hamilton has struggled to get past since he often doesn't have the strategy advantage he would with a rival team. In a very simplistic summary basically whoever has emerged from the first corner fight has gone on to win from the two of them unless they made a mistake, and that has mostly been Rosberg when it counted.

[Scuffers]

this have any effect on your view?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122093

Lewis Hamilton said:

I've lost half a second in F1 to Nico Rosberg

[Megaflow]

oyster said:

I do find it odd how the likes of Hunt are revered for their partying yet Hamilton is pilloried. And I dare say Lewis is almost entirely sober when he's out partying.

I can't help but think the issue isn't with the partying, but with the 'ethnic' element of the partying.

Very much so.

I can't say I particularly associate with the type of party Hamilton seems to enjoy, mostly because I hate night clubs, I'd much rather go to a decent local pub and sup to quality ale.

But, he is young, rich and single, with three championships under his belt. He has achieved more in the first 30 years of his life than many will, certainly more than I ever will, in their whole life.

I'd be disappointed if he wasn't out partying hard, frankly.

People seem to resent him because he chooses to show people that you don't have to come from a privileged background and anything is achievable with hard work.

[ZX10R NIN]

Berw said:

While I can agree he is good race driver, for me his life style leaves a great deal to be admired, he is not some one I would want my children to aspire to be. It is not enough to say that what he does on the race track is all that counts, he is public personality and his life style matters. Having encountered him on a couple of corporate occasions he is not some one I admire and his personality reduces/distracts from my enjoyment and admiration of his undoubted skill, but I accept that my opinion will effect him not in least.
Brundles statement on sky that 'the boy from Stevenage was a better driver than the LA rapper' sums it up.

Have you heard him rap?

Have you met him outside of his corporate duties? Kimi is an arse at these things but a very funny & amusing guy when away from these events.

[C70R]

glazbagun said:

I don't know who Lewis' actual friends are, as opposed to the people he's photographed with. But I don't think that hanging around with successful celebs is inherently worse than hanging around with royalty or that a pop star is a worse choice of girlfriend than a model (based on my massive experience of course ).

I think the pressure of being a celebrity as opposed to just a racing driver probably brings some distractions regarding the press intruding on your private life, but there's not much he can do about that now. In any case he can cry into his 3xWDC titles lying on his bed of millions if he needs comfort.

You see, I think the bolded bit is most interesting. If, for example, his extra-curricular activities were in some way hindering his ability to perform, then I could absolutely see why it would make people cross. However, he's just won his third WDC at a canter (with three races to spare), so it's hard to see how that could be an objection.

Regarding the former point about his choice of 'girlfriend', that is something I hadn't really considered, yet something he comes under a strange amount of criticism for (I'd applaud the guy for bagging a fantastic-looking sort). If you look down the grid, the majority of drivers (personal fave JB included) have thrown in with a bunch of vacuous, talentless, careerless 'former models'. While I'm hardly target audience for Nicole Whatsherface's music, it would be hard to say she's been unsuccessful in applying what limited talents she has to her career. Does her being famous make her/him open to more scorn than Ricciardo's other half being a no-name 'jewellery designer', or Grosjean's barely having a career as a TV presenter, or Rosberg's being an 'interior designer' of little note?

[C70R]

Scuffers said:

this have any effect on your view?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122093

Lewis Hamilton said:

I've lost half a second in F1 to Nico Rosberg

Are you suggesting that Hamilton's lifestyle since Singapore has contributed to this half a second? If not, I'm a bit confused by the reference.

[deadslow]

Leroy902 said:

deadslow said:

Martin Brundle more or less says they guy has turned into a div in his latest Sky column

You're getting pretty predictable mate with your anti-lewis bashing...

You should really give your ass a rest.

Dry your eyes pal