Lewis Hamilton (Vol. 2)

[Muzzer79]

Exige77 said:

Muzzer79 said:

TheDeuce said:

To be fair, even though I don't criticise him for it myself, I would prefer to just see him being a racer. I've already had world politics rammed down my throat all week, when I turn on sport, I'd kind of like to see champions enthused about the sport itself. So I kind of get the frustration some people feel. I just don't understand why it's actually a problem for them - because clearly he still gets the 'sport' element just about perfect in-spite of also asking people to be vegan and begin each work day on one knee.

This I don’t understand

I’ve never seen him once ask anyone to be a vegan.

I’ve seen him say that a vegan lifestyle works for him and he believes it to be the right way, but I’ve never seen anything from him saying

“You should be a vegan too.” Or
“Come on everybody, go vegan”

Same with the one knee thing. He does it, but he was quite clear in Austria that it’s the individual’s choice as to whether they do.

Jenson Button posts loads of pictures of his son and wife on his social media, saying how fantastic they are. I don’t feel that he’s telling me to be a Dad or get married though?

It’s an individual’s choice except when his individual fellow F1 drivers don’t give his cause the right amount of attention ?

I write as one of “Lewis the racing driver’s” greatest admirers.

As said previously by another poster, it’s wall to wall politics on the news everyday, I don’t want it to see it on the sporting stage.

I do wish Lewis would stick to the racing on a race weekend. He has endless opportunities on social media to push his causes which is absolutely fine. He has every right to use his fame in which ever way he chooses in his own time.

To labour the point, what does he do on a race weekend that isn't racing?

He wears a t-shirt and takes the knee for a few minutes out of a 3 day meeting.

Maybe I'm missing something? (Once the season gets going; I usually switch on for the race then turn off after the flag)

[kambites]

Muzzer79 said:

To labour the point, what does he do on a race weekend that isn't racing?

He wears a t-shirt and takes the knee for a few minutes out of a 3 day meeting.

Maybe I'm missing something? (Once the season gets going; I usually switch on for the race then turn off after the flag)

Yeah I don't really get the complaints either. I've never seen him be evangelical about veganism anywhere and his racial prejudice protests are largely of the quiet type at actual race weekends except when he's asked direct questions in interview sessions, which he could hardly refuse to answer.

I don't think I'd call veganism or anti-racial comments "political" either, for that matter.

[Muzzer79]

RB Will said:

angrymoby said:

RB Will said:

angrymoby said:

Rosberg would have just pushed Hamilton out on the outside instead ...there was no way he was letting him past that year (also see Austria)

Didn’t Rosberg let him through willingly at Monaco?

No.

Yes

Yes +1

[spunkytherabbit]

Exige77 said:

It’s an individual’s choice except when his individual fellow F1 drivers don’t give his cause the right amount of attention ?

I write as one of “Lewis the racing driver’s” greatest admirers.

As said previously by another poster, it’s wall to wall politics on the news everyday, I don’t want it to see it on the sporting stage.

I do wish Lewis would stick to the racing on a race weekend. He has endless opportunities on social media to push his causes which is absolutely fine. He has every right to use his fame in which ever way he chooses in his own time.

What is worse though for fans? F1 coverage dominated as much by Bernie and Max dragging the sport through the mud, about Max Mosely abusing his position of power, pursuing vendettas etc, Bernie's shady deals and wildly inappropriate comments? Or current coverage that is accepting that sport in general is no longer operating in a bubble like it used to? F1 especially.

I'm not disagreeing with, or challenging, your own feelings and sentiment about what you want to tune in to see - F1 racing. My point is that F1 coverage always had an element that would distract from the racing most weekends. Do F1 fans need to adapt and change, appreciating that 'our sport' is no longer insulated from the outside world and the coverage will reflect this? That rather than make compliments that appear back handed because we don't like this fact we either roll with the changes or severely limit our viewing and consumption to JUST lights out, the race and the podium?

[Exige77]

Muzzer79 said:

To labour the point, what does he do on a race weekend that isn't racing?

He wears a t-shirt and takes the knee for a few minutes out of a 3 day meeting.

Maybe I'm missing something? (Once the season gets going; I usually switch on for the race then turn off after the flag)

I think Lewis is doing what ever he can “get away with” during the race weekend.

Everyone agreed to get behind the “we race as one” initiative which is fine. But Lewis needed to take it further and use the race day to promote his views via T shirts, masks and gestures on the podium. I think that should stay on his personal social media. That’s all I’m saying.

Edited by Exige77 on Wednesday 28th October 09:22

[angrymoby]

RB Will said:

Yes

No.

It was a team order because he was so far off the pace ...even with Hamilton right up his gearbox & losing sight of Ricciardo there was absolutely no way he'd have let Hamilton through 'willingly'

[paulguitar]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

RB Will said:

For my own education, apart from the 3 championship deciding incidents, what else in their career suggests regular dirty driving? As it seems a relatively common claim.

Schumacher?

Took Hakkinen out at the 1990 Macau F3. Petulantly smashed into Derek Warwick at the Nurburgring in '91. Bundled Frentzen off track at Canada '98. Parked his Ferrari at Monaco '06. Ran his old teamate almost into the pitwall in Hungary 2010. Those are some of the standout ones.

And Senna's roll of shame is rather lengthy too, 'highlights' include deliberately balking other drivers after setting pole laps, refusing to accept being behind Brundle in F3 and literally running over the top of him, veering alarmingly towards Prost at McLaren (Portugal '88) and almost putting him into the pit wall...

[paulguitar]

angrymoby said:

RB Will said:

Yes

No.

It was a team order because he was so far off the pace ...even with Hamilton right up his gearbox & losing sight of Ricciardo there was absolutely no way he'd have let Hamilton through 'willingly'

Rosberg was significantly slower than Hamilton and complied with a team request. So to be fair, he did comply, and Hamilton went on to win the race.

[angrymoby]

paulguitar said:

veering alarmingly towards Prost at McLaren (Portugal '88) and almost putting him into the pit wall...

i re-watched this a couple of days ago & "almost putting him into the pit wall" is rather over egging it ...there was at least over half a car width (we're not talking the inches that Schumi 'left' for Barrichello in Hungary '10)

[paulguitar]

angrymoby said:

paulguitar said:

veering alarmingly towards Prost at McLaren (Portugal '88) and almost putting him into the pit wall...

i re-watched this a couple of days ago & "almost putting him into the pit wall" is rather over egging it ...there was at least over half a car width (we're not talking the inches that Schumi 'left' for Barrichello in Hungary '10)

The mechanics behind the wall had to pull out the pit boards they were hanging over it.

I think the main point was that it was new ground, nobody has ever seen anything quite like it at that time. After the race, Prost said 'if Ayrton wants the championship so badly he is prepared to die for it, he can have it'.

[angrymoby]

paulguitar said:

The mechanics behind the wall had to pull out the pit boards they were hanging over it.

I think the main point was that it was new ground, nobody has ever seen anything quite like it at that time. After the race, Prost said 'if Ayrton wants the championship so badly he is prepared to die for it, he can have it'.

no disagreement from me on either of those

[spunkytherabbit]

Exige77 said:

I think Lewis is doing what ever he can “get away with” during the race weekend.

Everyone agreed to get behind the “we race as one” initiative which is fine. But Lewis needed to take it further and use the race day to promote his views via T shirts, masks and gestures on the podium. I think that should stay on his personal social media. That’s all I’m saying.

Edited by Exige77 on Wednesday 28th October 09:22

Yeah, I do see that this is a demonstration of how it is not what you want in F1 coverage. It is the outside world bleeding into the coverage. F1, sport, is escapism if nothing else.

Sport in general is no longer insulated though and viewers have to find a way of reconciling themselves with that. As someone who has never been impacted by racial inequalities I have no appreciation, beyond asking questions, of the experiences are of those who are. When Hamilton started to back the BLM movement openly during race weekends I wondered if he should be bringing it into F1. But I myself realised sports coverage has moved with the times and as a viewer I have to do the same, regardless of any issues presented during it. The sad fact is there are also marketing opportunities for those who adapt their coverage to be seen to be backing movements and Sky, and others, have done this. Notwithstanding the specifics of BLM in itself, whether you agree with it, or understand it. I, fans, can do one of two things. Accept coverage will reflect the outside world now. Or tune in for just 2 hours on race day and read only niche motorsport press.

[p1stonhead]

Exige77 said:

Muzzer79 said:

To labour the point, what does he do on a race weekend that isn't racing?

He wears a t-shirt and takes the knee for a few minutes out of a 3 day meeting.

Maybe I'm missing something? (Once the season gets going; I usually switch on for the race then turn off after the flag)

I think Lewis is doing what ever he can “get away with” during the race weekend.

Everyone agreed to get behind the “we race as one” initiative which is fine. But Lewis needed to take it further and use the race day to promote his views via T shirts, masks and gestures on the podium. I think that should stay on his personal social media. That’s all I’m saying.

Edited by Exige77 on Wednesday 28th October 09:22

Why?

[Exige77]

p1stonhead said:

Why?

If you want to know or support Lewis’s political views, you can follow him on Instagram / Twitter et al. He is absolutely entitled to what ever views he might have on any subject.

I don’t want to see a sporting event used as a political vehicle regardless of the politics being good / bad / noble or otherwise.

[spunkytherabbit]

I don't see the problem with it personally Hamilton keeping BLM slap dead centre. Someone using the platform they have from their career to reach a niche audience. Difficult topics are easy to ignore and if someone can make a viewer think about something, go away and educate themselves and understand the perspective and experiences of another.... all to the good.

Like I said, sport is no longer in a bubble and the real world has burst many bubbles the last year. F1's included. Maybe I tick differently, maybe I've just accepted more quickly the bursting of the F1 bubble, what it means to me as a 40+ year viewer and the coverage I will now watch as a result. But I know one thing - having someone I respect in a field I am passionate about carefully talking about a genuine issue has made me engage more with it than I probably would have without them doing so.

How is that bad?

[nickfrog]

Exige77 said:

If you want to know or support Lewis’s political views, you can follow him on Instagram / Twitter et al. He is absolutely entitled to what ever views he might have on any subject.

I don’t want to see a sporting event used as a political vehicle regardless of the politics being good / bad / noble or otherwise.

Promoting racial equality is hardly political. It's just common sense. Sport is a brilliant platform for it. Even football is leading the way.

[Exige77]

nickfrog said:

Exige77 said:

If you want to know or support Lewis’s political views, you can follow him on Instagram / Twitter et al. He is absolutely entitled to what ever views he might have on any subject.

I don’t want to see a sporting event used as a political vehicle regardless of the politics being good / bad / noble or otherwise.

Promoting racial equality is hardly political. It's just common sense. Sport is a brilliant platform for it. Even football is leading the way.

F1 as a whole have a “We race as one” initiative which is being overshadowed / diluted by Lewis’s actions.

One of the problems with racism is it divisive. Instead of F1 speaking with “one voice”, Lewis is separating himself from it.

That’s why I think it’s better for Lewis to pursue his causes in his own time.

[nickfrog]

Exige77 said:

F1 as a whole have a “We race as one” initiative which is being overshadowed / diluted by Lewis’s actions.

One of the problems with racism is it divisive. Instead of F1 speaking with “one voice”, Lewis is separating himself from it.

That’s why I think it’s better for Lewis to pursue his causes in his own time.

I think he enhances the initiative, which he is also a part of.

I am sorry to hear it affects your enjoyment of the races. Personally I hardly notice it, it's a few seconds across a few hours.

[Exige77]

nickfrog said:

I think he enhances the initiative, which he is also a part of.

I am sorry to hear it affects your enjoyment of the races. Personally I hardly notice it, it's a few seconds across a few hours.

I think many of the F1 drivers are role models for many of the youngsters. Seeing them “all” wearing the same “we race as one” masks / T-shirts / stickers is a much more powerful and United message for all.

Having the very best driver giving a different message is divisive.

It’s division between people that racism is all about.

If the people fighting racism can’t agree what message does it send out ?

Anyway, can’t wait to see Lewis bag the next pot at the weekend.

[ch37]

Exige77 said:

If you want to know or support Lewis’s political views, you can follow him on Instagram / Twitter et al. He is absolutely entitled to what ever views he might have on any subject.

I don’t want to see a sporting event used as a political vehicle regardless of the politics being good / bad / noble or otherwise.

How do you feel about the '95 Rugby World Cup Final?