HAMILTON'S GOING TO SWITZERLAND
Discussion
I could not care less where he lives, what reasons he gives for living where he lives, whether those reasons are genuine, how much tax he's paying, how much money he's earning, who he's 
ing, whose clothes he's wearing, what food he eats, what he calls his pets, whether his father comes to races, whether he lives with his father anymore, whether he plays playstation with Alonso, what music he likes, what level of jewellery he feels is appropriate for a young man about town...or ANYTHING else, apart from:
1) Will McLaren build him a good car next year;
2) Will Mercedes design a faster, more reliable engine than Ferrari;
3) Will he improve next year and tailor his driving to the demands of F1 tyres without traction control;
4) Will he resist the F1 affection for growing stupid beards.
ing, whose clothes he's wearing, what food he eats, what he calls his pets, whether his father comes to races, whether he lives with his father anymore, whether he plays playstation with Alonso, what music he likes, what level of jewellery he feels is appropriate for a young man about town...or ANYTHING else, apart from:1) Will McLaren build him a good car next year;
2) Will Mercedes design a faster, more reliable engine than Ferrari;
3) Will he improve next year and tailor his driving to the demands of F1 tyres without traction control;
4) Will he resist the F1 affection for growing stupid beards.
He has gone from being a non-entity to a major celebrity in less than a year. He's only 22. Having half the country thinking they know him, thinking they have the right to pry into his private life, thinking they have the right to pass comment on his character, his decisions and his behaviour must be "a bit strange" and not necessarily very pleasant. I can well understand why he might want to distance himself from it. The idea that he owes anything to his fans just because they have chosen to be his fans is rather odd. By all means admire him for what he has achieved, but think that that admiration entitles you to something back from him????
CampDavid said:
I know, it was the headline grabbing figure they used, but I believe Tiger Woods and Schumacher were hitting around that amount. Mostly from bits outside F1, I remember Michael doing a deal at $5m a year with a German bank for their name to appear on his hat!
The difference being MS had full marketing rights as part of his ferrari deal, so he could have his name and ferrari to just about anything and get paid. I don't think McLaren allow there drivers to appear in all there gear for there own personal deals.
ATG said:
He has gone from being a non-entity to a major celebrity in less than a year. He's only 22. Having half the country thinking they know him, thinking they have the right to pry into his private life, thinking they have the right to pass comment on his character, his decisions and his behaviour must be "a bit strange" and not necessarily very pleasant. I can well understand why he might want to distance himself from it. The idea that he owes anything to his fans just because they have chosen to be his fans is rather odd. By all means admire him for what he has achieved, but think that that admiration entitles you to something back from him????
Not at all, but at least admit that the reason you're going is tax based and don't blame those taht support you for the decsisionCampDavid said:
ATG said:
He has gone from being a non-entity to a major celebrity in less than a year. He's only 22. Having half the country thinking they know him, thinking they have the right to pry into his private life, thinking they have the right to pass comment on his character, his decisions and his behaviour must be "a bit strange" and not necessarily very pleasant. I can well understand why he might want to distance himself from it. The idea that he owes anything to his fans just because they have chosen to be his fans is rather odd. By all means admire him for what he has achieved, but think that that admiration entitles you to something back from him????
Not at all, but at least admit that the reason you're going is tax based and don't blame those taht support you for the decsisionWe do take it too far - it's all jealousy mind you - we'd all love to have his problems!
I might admit to not wanting to pay Gordon Brown any more than necessary mind you!
I don't blame him leaving for 1 minute, the press is way too obtrusive, the hero worship completely OTT (they want to name a road in Stevenage after him FFS) and the tax is too punitive. He can be more centrally based and practise at altitude in CH so I guess his leaving is for many reasons and I wouldn't be surprised at his comments being cherry picked by the ing press anyway.
ing press anyway.
Ecurie Ecosse said:
Sorry but Clifford is talking out of his bottom as normal Ecurie Ecosse said:
Let's hope he's (for once) right then, because it's the hysterical media attention and fan adoration he wants to get away from isn't it?
Labour's increasing tax burden is the simple part-answer as to why, after all who would "want" to move to Switzerland out of pure choice, they have worse car/transport and "climate" laws than many. I think he's moving there to get the tax breaks but also for the privacy, most gutter press journos couldn't find it on map anyway. If you are able to move, move. As with all sportsmen he has a limited (albeit high earning) career. He will want to put away as much as possible without giving too much to the greedy government who think success should be penalised with higher taxation and given to the scroungers.
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