Lewis Hamilton G.O.A.T. ?

[MarkwG]

95 fiesta si said:

MarkwG said:

Nothing's impossible, but I seriously doubt it: he has nothing left to prove

Neither did Schumacher but he still come back lol

Schumacher only won championships when driving cars run & designed by Ross Brawn & Rory Byrne: he needed to prove to himself he could win without them: he didn't...

[anonymous-user]

95 fiesta si said:

MarkwG said:

Nothing's impossible, but I seriously doubt it: he has nothing left to prove

Neither did Schumacher but he still come back lol

Michael was forced out by the team to put Kimi in, he wasn't ready to retire.

[MarkwG]

jsf said:

95 fiesta si said:

MarkwG said:

Nothing's impossible, but I seriously doubt it: he has nothing left to prove

Neither did Schumacher but he still come back lol

Michael was forced out by the team to put Kimi in, he wasn't ready to retire.

Good point, forgotten that.

[paulguitar]

Not hearing much from DeltonaSparta lately...

[Northernboy]

paulguitar said:

Not hearing much from DeltonaSparta lately...

I was thinking the same thing. There’s really no way at the moment to argue that Max is the better driver, is there? He’s probably reading, angrily.

[fttm]

GOAT hard to say , greatest of his era without doubt .

[IforB]

It's hard to describe the way Hamilton is driving right now without coming across as a gushing fanboi.

Verstappen is driving extremely well. The Red Bull is quick. Hamilton and Merc seem to be able to deal with that.

It's been great so far this season. Red Bull have pushed Merc and Hamilton to perform even better, which given where they have been over recent times, is pretty astonishing stuff. They have out-thought Red Bull, which given how good they are too, is no mean feat.

Brilliant to watch all of this, this year. Anyone who is an actual fan of F1 (rather than a partisan "I hate [insert team or driver name]" doughnut) then this has been a fabulous start to the season.

More like this please.

[Oilchange]

I agree great start to the season.

Can one be a massive fan and a doughnut? I wonder...

[Exige77]

Oilchange said:

I agree great start to the season.

Can one be a massive fan and a doughnut? I wonder...

Yes !!

I’m not a big fan of Max but I can still recognise he’s maturing well and driving fantastically. Still only 23.

I’m not a big RB fan but I can still recognise they can build a fantastic car.

You can support your team / driver and still appreciate great performances from the others.

[MarkwG]

IforB said:

It's hard to describe the way Hamilton is driving right now without coming across as a gushing fanboi.

Verstappen is driving extremely well. The Red Bull is quick. Hamilton and Merc seem to be able to deal with that.

It's been great so far this season. Red Bull have pushed Merc and Hamilton to perform even better, which given where they have been over recent times, is pretty astonishing stuff. They have out-thought Red Bull, which given how good they are too, is no mean feat.

Brilliant to watch all of this, this year. Anyone who is an actual fan of F1 (rather than a partisan "I hate [insert team or driver name]" doughnut) then this has been a fabulous start to the season.

More like this please.

I understand what you mean, but think that's what I love about motorsport: it doesn't have to be tribal & partisan, like some other pigs bladder based activities, for example. Not to say that doesn't happen, but it isn't mandatory like it seems to be elsewhere.

I listened with my son yesterday, as we were at a car club event (at last!) & he mentioned a friend who "hates" Mercedes & "dislikes" Hamilton, because of the "dominance". Well, he didn't dominate yesterday - but he still got over the line first, & that's not the first time, either. That is special, & it's a bit of shame for the other lad that he's missing out on witnessing how special that is. Hamilton is in that elite class of driver that the team know they can rely on him to do what they need, even when it's above & beyond the expectation: they can ask the seemingly impossible & know he'll achieve it. That opens up the opportunities for race strategists to create plans which keep the opposition guessing. I can only think of two F1 drivers in my time that have or had that - Schumacher & Hamilton. I didn't see that in Senna, superb driving absolutely, but not consistently, & not with the team in mind - same as Prost. Vettel, perhaps, but he needed the car to be perfect, rather than good enough. There may be a case for Clark, but I didn't see him race. I can think of many more where they couldn't step up like that, make that step change in performance to achieve the impossible. Some of it is the car's design & reliability, sure; some the relationship with the team: I suspect without Toto Wolff managing, that relationship wouldn't thrive either - but difference is Hamilton - & you don't need to be a fan of either him or the team to enjoy that.

[Gary29]

I really hope he manages to secure his 8th WDC this season and then retires on a high, leaving his legacy untarnished for others to aim for.

I hope he doesn't try to hang on as long as possible and his super human form starts to slip away.

Bottas shipped out too and then let George and Ocon have the two seats for 2022, that would be amazing.

I'm not sure Lewis is the type to just walk away though.

[nickfrog]

Gary29 said:

I'm not sure Lewis is the type to just walk away though.

I agree, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with x10/x120/x120 or thereabouts.

[Si1295]

MarkwG said:

I can only think of two F1 drivers in my time that have or had that - Schumacher & Hamilton. I didn't see that in Senna, superb driving absolutely, but not consistently, & not with the team in mind - same as Prost. Vettel, perhaps, but he needed the car to be perfect, rather than good enough. There may be a case for Clark, but I didn't see him race. I can think of many more where they couldn't step up like that, make that step change in performance to achieve the impossible.

Alonso? 2012?

Gary29 said:

I'm not sure Lewis is the type to just walk away though.

I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that he wants to retire as the defeated champion. Whether that’s just a dig at Rosberg, I’m not sure

[Gary29]

Si1295 said:

I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that he wants to retire as the defeated champion. Whether that’s just a dig at Rosberg, I’m not sure

I can just imagine this thread and lots of other social media being unbearable if he does try to drag it on for as long as possible and his pace starts to slip. Schumacher did little to enchance his previous reputation when he made a return in 2010, people only remember back as far as supports their viewpoint.

I doubt LH will care much about social media noise, but it would be a bold step to just walk away at the top of his game, rather than feeling completely broken by it like Rosberg.

[entropy]

jsf said:

Michael was forced out by the team to put Kimi in, he wasn't ready to retire.

Schumi was going to retire at the end of 2006 on his own terms, just as Jackie Stewart wanted to in 1973, before fate intervened; very few people knew of their intentions.

[Muzzer79]

Sandpit Steve said:

With 100 poles and 98 wins, does anyone not now think he’s the big Billy GOAT?

I don't and I think my posts show appreciation for his achievements.

The GOAT in F1 is an impossible statement due to changes in cars, tracks, safety, professionalism and culture.

IMO, one can only appoint the GOAT of a particular era. Of the current (Mid-2000s onwards) era, it is undoubtedly Hamilton but it's impossible to say if he is better than Schumacher/Senna/Lauda/Stewart/Clark/Fangio before him.

[MarkwG]

Si1295 said:

MarkwG said:

I can only think of two F1 drivers in my time that have or had that - Schumacher & Hamilton. I didn't see that in Senna, superb driving absolutely, but not consistently, & not with the team in mind - same as Prost. Vettel, perhaps, but he needed the car to be perfect, rather than good enough. There may be a case for Clark, but I didn't see him race. I can think of many more where they couldn't step up like that, make that step change in performance to achieve the impossible.

Alonso? 2012?

Nope, not for me: he can & did drive the car out of its chassis, sure - but not for the team, back then, it was all about him. He threw his teddiy when McLaren didn't pan out as he expected with Hamilton, & caused carnage. He wasn't & perhaps still isn't, a team player - he may have changed, but only time will tell.

[MustangGT]

nickfrog said:

I agree, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with x10/x120/x120 or thereabouts.

I'd like to see him get 133 poles. The same number as MS and AS added together

[nickfrog]

MustangGT said:

I'd like to see him get 133 poles. The same number as MS and AS added together

I like the sound of that!!

[mattdavies]

MustangGT said:

I'd like to see him get 133 poles. The same number as MS and AS added together

Talking of qualifying, his Masterclass with Martin Brundle was surprising. Doesnt walk the track and doesnt do sim work, just 3 Free Practises and then bangings in a pole lap.

I do not know when he started working like this but you can see why Nico Rosberg retired after the work he put in to beat Hamilton over a season, also the fact he had to put the work in when Hamilton jets around the world chatting to supermodels all weeks, turns up at the track and demolishes most of the comptetition.