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

[Smollet]

deadslow said:

C70R said:

deadslow said:

C70R said:

he comes across pretty beige in PR interviews. However, the same criticism could be levelled at almost every other driver on the grid

definitely not true. Vettel is always good for a larf, and JB is good on camera - his recent bit with DC was brilliant.

Agreed, but you ignored my bolded bit. They are definitely the exception, rather than the norm. Button, Vettel and Ricciardo are probably the only recent drivers I can think of with more than an ounce of charisma. The rest (including Hamilton, if you like) are made to look like clotheshorses by comparison.

Nah, some of them are really funny and loads of them are perfectly listenable. MAnd most of those in a second language.

Hamilton just grates. He is false #lovejesusman

Fangio was a right hoot as was Moss.

[C70R]

deadslow said:

C70R said:

deadslow said:

C70R said:

he comes across pretty beige in PR interviews. However, the same criticism could be levelled at almost every other driver on the grid

definitely not true. Vettel is always good for a larf, and JB is good on camera - his recent bit with DC was brilliant.

Agreed, but you ignored my bolded bit. They are definitely the exception, rather than the norm. Button, Vettel and Ricciardo are probably the only recent drivers I can think of with more than an ounce of charisma. The rest (including Hamilton, if you like) are made to look like clotheshorses by comparison.

Nah, some of them are really funny and loads of them are perfectly listenable. MAnd most of those in a second language.

Hamilton just grates. He is false #lovejesusman

There really aren't many funny/interesting drivers on the grid. Drivers' press conferences were once interesting, but now sounds like a bunch of corporate robots (second language or not), with the odd exception. The days of big personalities in F1 are gone, by and large.

[SpudLink]

C70R said:

There really aren't many funny/interesting drivers on the grid. Drivers' press conferences were once interesting, but now sounds like a bunch of corporate robots (second language or not), with the odd exception. The days of big personalities in F1 are gone, by and large.

If you watch interviews with the kids who are just out of karting, many already sound like corporate PR spokesman. I figure it must be part of modern driver coaching. By the time they reach F1 it's their default mode when 'on duty'.

Drivers of previous generations grew up first, then started racing. Their personalities were already formed before the public knew about them. Now they grow up in the public eye, raised to be professional drivers.

Hamilton might well be living his childhood dream, but it's not supprising if all his public interaction is through the PR filter that he's had programmed into him.

[otolith]

SpudLink said:

professional

This. They've got to be marketable off the track.

Hamilton has had enough success that he can build his own brand, which is very obviously what he's doing. It may not be a very attractive brand for conservative old farts, but I don't think they're the audience. Comes down to whether you want a career advertising blingy watches or dandruff shampoo.

[C70R]

otolith said:

SpudLink said:

professional

This. They've got to be marketable off the track.

Hamilton has had enough success that he can build his own brand, which is very obviously what he's doing. It may not be a very attractive brand for conservative old farts, but I don't think they're the audience. Comes down to whether you want a career advertising blingy watches or dandruff shampoo.

...or selling bank accounts! As much as I love JB, he has done his fair share of 'whoring' himself out...

[sirtyro]

Never fear....we can all hear his debut album early next year....apparently

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnV8Y08N7Mw

[5150]

sirtyro said:

Never fear....we can all hear his debut album early next year....apparently

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnV8Y08N7Mw

The comedy value of that will be immense!

[sirtyro]

5150 said:

The comedy value of that will be immense!

You can have a preview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Z0rfau6f0

After all the trolling he's done this year, I would love to see Vettel's reaction to it when he first hears it.

[Blayney]

I haven't watched the link yet. However I Do remember Hamilton being interviewed at the start of his first f1 season. He was playing a guitar talking of his love for music. Now he had the money and contacts to do something with it. I can't say I dislike him for it.

[glazbagun]

Blayney said:

I haven't watched the link yet. However I Do remember Hamilton being interviewed at the start of his first f1 season. He was playing a guitar talking of his love for music. Now he had the money and contacts to do something with it. I can't say I dislike him for it.

The Cynical part of me doesn't like it when a millionaire sporting star decides to become a musician, but that's probably down to viewing music the primary goal of starting artists across the world sacrificing good living for their choice of career. But if Lauda can start an airline and Coulthard a hotel business and Venus Williams a fashion label, then I don't see why Hamilton can't have a go at music.

[C Lee Farquar]

I guess it's the same as those of us who work to fund our amateur racing at weekends.

But my weekend dalliances do not impact on the image of a prestige car manufacturer.

[HTP99]

glazbagun said:

Blayney said:

I don't see why Hamilton can't have a go at music.

Two words; Jacques Villeneuve!!

[FW18]

HTP99 said:

glazbagun said:

Blayney said:

I don't see why Hamilton can't have a go at music.

Two words; Jacques Villeneuve!!

Indeed, how can we forget those catchy tunes like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BVn5EvRveM

[Durzel]

Vettel has in my opinion become more interesting since he hasn't been winning. Unlike a lot I've always thought him to be fairly likeable whether he's winning or not (a few on track outbursts notwithstanding - but you can forgive that in the heat of the moment).

It's been posted before but it gave me a chuckle:
https://youtu.be/_PPhfA5XNaE

There is a lot of blind patriotism on here regards Hamilton. No one can doubt his talent, but he is very petulant and is never out of the media openly criticising his peers. Even in victory he's not particularly graceful. When Vettel was dominating he was straight to the media complaining that it could bore fans. Guess he doesn't care about that now.

It's very low rent mind games really, and beneath someone of his natural talents. But because he's a Brit he's absolutely beyond reproach by a number on here.

Edited by Durzel on Saturday 12th December 09:22

[LDN]

Durzel said:

Vettel has in my opinion become more interesting since he hasn't been winning. Unlike a lot I've always thought him to be fairly likeable whether he's winning or not (a few on track outbursts notwithstanding - but you can forgive that in the heat of the moment).

It's been posted before but it gave me a chuckle:
https://youtu.be/_PPhfA5XNaE

There is a lot of blind patriotism on here regards Hamilton. No one can doubt his talent, but he is very petulant and is never out of the media openly criticising his peers. Even in victory he's not particularly graceful. When Vettel was dominating he was straight to the media complaining that it could bore fans. Guess he doesn't care about that now.

It's very low rent mind games really, and beneath someone of his natural talents. But because he's a Brit he's absolutely beyond reproach by a number on here.

Edited by Durzel on Saturday 12th December 09:22

Got to love Vettel... and it's fair to say many think Hamilton is a bit of a tit... but again, for the millionth time; character and on track are seperate things and I prefer Hamilton as a driver. Not because he's British but I prefer his style. But if it were a sense of humour championship; I reckon Vettel would indeed be up front and Button could be in for a shout also.

[rscott]

I think the change of team is responsible for the change in Vettel - he seems a happier and more relaxed person now.

[jogger1976]

I'm not LH's biggest fan, but I can certainly respect his achievements and the skill and professionalism he brings to F1.

I think a large part of the problem is that he's a successful British person,and if we're being honest with ourselves, deep down we like to knock those who we think are doing well.

I can't imagine he'd be getting the same slating if he was living in the US as they have a totally different attitude to success.

[deadslow]

LDN said:

But if it were a sense of humour championship; I reckon Vettel would indeed be up front and Button could be in for a shout also.

In equal cars, would be same in WDC.

[LDN]

jogger1976 said:

I'm not LH's biggest fan, but I can certainly respect his achievements and the skill and professionalism he brings to F1.

I think a large part of the problem is that he's a successful British person,and if we're being honest with ourselves, deep down we like to knock those who we think are doing well.

I can't imagine he'd be getting the same slating if he was living in the US as they have a totally different attitude to success.

This is very very true.

[LDN]

deadslow said:

LDN said:

But if it were a sense of humour championship; I reckon Vettel would indeed be up front and Button could be in for a shout also.

In equal cars, would be same in WDC.

Nahhhhh; I'm a Button fan but; nahhhhh. Vettel would be up there though.