F1 Silverstone 2007

[lowndes888]

Hamilton got pole, Kimi would have had it if he hadn't touched the sand, grrrrr:mad::down:

Heidfeld strangely got a low position:(, and Ralf surprises with 8th:eek::eek::roflmao:

[Fool_1njection]

Cant wait for the race.:roflmao:
Why Hamilton and not Alonso, I hate Hammerton.:mad:

I still miss M Schumacher:cry:

[rasfigjohn]

Cant wait for the race.:roflmao:
Why Hamilton and not Alonso, I hate Hammerton.:mad:

I still miss M Schumacher:cry:

Well prepare yourself to be really unhappy then... Schumi won't be back and Hamilton is here to stay.

[Dan]

Why Hamilton and not Alonso, I hate Hammerton.:mad:

I'm sure a lot of people feel just the opposite.. its nice to see someone giving alonslow a beating :D

[lowndes888]

I too like someone beating Alonso, but I don't want that to be Hamilton.

My prediction would be that Raikkonen will win tomorrow

[Fool_1njection]

Why did Alonso leave Renault. They were soo good.

But hey, you guys are right, Alonso won 2 Championships in a row, thats enough.

[Joel]

Great result :)

btw, please try to avoid putting qualifying or race results in thread titles as it may spoil it for someone who hasn't had the chance to watch it yet ;)

[snowy]

:roflmao: :D :roflmao: My boy did good today. Any one who mourns Schuey's departure should write to him and tell him what a chicken he is for leaving F1 when he saw Lewis was on his way to blow him into the weeds. :roflmao: :D :roflmao:

[Peltipurkki]

Great result :)

btw, please try to avoid putting qualifying or race results in thread titles as it may spoil it for someone who hasn't had the chance to watch it yet ;)

yep like me :D oh well ill have to watch it anyways although i now know the result :p

[Wee Scot]

I wouldn't bet against Hamilton! :p

He hasn't put a wheel wrong in 8+ Grands Prix, and after that Masterful performance in Q, I don't expect The Greatest F1 Rookie in History (yes, better even than MS) to start making mistakes tomorrow!

How can you NOT like him? Kimi sitting beside him in the Q press conference was his usual Sulking Automaton. Fernando talked (unconvincingly) about his good chances for tomorrow. Lewis was, as usual, delightful in his description of the energy boost he's gotten from his English (and international :D) fans, of his challenge in making up the .2 seconds he'd been losing in sector 1, and the difficulty and THRILL of winning pole! He lost his voice??? No, I lost MY voice shouting at my television as his time popped up on screen!

Go Lewis, beat Kimi ...and Fernando ...and Felipe! This is your Destiny!!! :up: :up: :up: :up: :up:

[Wee Scot]

Why did Alonso leave Renault. They were soo good.

But hey, you guys are right, Alonso won 2 Championships in a row, thats enough.

What are you SMOKIN??? If Fernando had stayed with Renault he'd be 10th in points now instead of 2nd! You can't win without the car. He's got the car; he didn't count on his teammate being a bigger talent. Case closed.

[lowndes888]

:roflmao: :D :roflmao: My boy did good today. Any one who mourns Schuey's departure should write to him and tell him what a chicken he is for leaving F1 when he saw Lewis was on his way to blow him into the weeds. :roflmao: :D :roflmao:

I guess anyone who leaves F1 is a chicken then:down: I am yet to see Hamilton start from the back end cause of an engine failure and then plow his way thru the field like Schumacher did many times. And I bet I won't see that, its only an average rookie in the best car in the field

[rasfigjohn]

You guys are killing me with Schumacher did this, Schumacher did that. You were BORN with Michael Schumacher in F1 so I can understand why you're so in love with Daddy Schumi but now it's time to grow old a bit and realize we have a great show this year and just enjoy it.
What Schumi did, he also did it with the best car.
If Fernando was still @ Renault he would probably be faster than Fisico but still would be fighting against BMW and not Ferrari nor McLaren.
And lowndes... you should watch some last year GP2 races to see what Hamilton is able to do when he starts from the end of the grid...

[Wee Scot]

You guys are killing me with Schumacher did this, Schumacher did that. You were BORN with Michael Schumacher in F1 so I can understand why you're so in love with Daddy Schumi but now it's time to grow old a bit and realize we have a great show this year and just enjoy it.
What Schumi did, he also did it with the best car.
If Fernando was still @ Renault he would probably be faster than Fisico but still would be fighting against BMW and not Ferrari nor McLaren.
And lowndes... you should watch some last year GP2 races to see what Hamilton is able to do when he starts from the end of the grid...

...what HE said...

Great points, Fabrice. :)

(Off topic: Looks like Marion Bartoli might turn the tables on Venus Williams!)

[Fool_1njection]

I never found out why Alonso left Renault. have not been keeping up to date in F1. But he did so well.

[Fool_1njection]

...what HE said...

Great points, Fabrice. :)

(Off topic: Looks like Marion Bartoli might turn the tables on Venus Williams!)

I agree with him. But that does not mean I dont miss M Schumacher. I do still enjoy F1 even with the new kid on the block (Hamilton).

I just wish there was more excitement in F1 like passing. No ABS and TC atleast.

[fpol]

I agree with him. But that does not mean I dont miss M Schumacher. I do still enjoy F1 even with the new kid on the block (Hamilton).

I just wish there was more excitement in F1 like passing. No ABS and TC atleast.

Then watch NASCAR ;) (ok i guess that might be a bit tough in Cape Town).

A reason for not providing spoilers in the title is that for any number of reasons, someone may miss qual/race (work, athletic training, - heck even real racing) and may TIVO it. You get home to watch, pop onto your favorite forum - and there in a title of a thread is the results you'd hoped to watch 'delayed' 'live'. Ask me how i know :). I no longer go online at all if I tivo qual or a race since I've had it ruined before.


...I'm having difficulty understanding why in order to describe the greatness of one driver, one must put down another. Personally I find that the (37 yr old - not exactly young to be retiring) Schumacher was a great driver who would at times unfortunately resort to questionable on track antics. Hamilton, after 8 races of virtual perfection (as well mentioned by Wee Scott) is clearly not a 'mid pack' rookie in a great car - had that been the case he would not have out qualed his WC team mate more than once, and out placed him more than a few times as well.

Watch the races with less of a jaundiced eye and be shocked at what you might see.

[Wee Scot]

Then watch NASCAR ;) (ok i guess that might be a bit tough in Cape Town).

A reason for not providing spoilers in the title is that for any number of reasons, someone may miss qual/race (work, athletic training, - heck even real racing) and may TIVO it. You get home to watch, pop onto your favorite forum - and there in a title of a thread is the results you'd hoped to watch 'delayed' 'live'. Ask me how i know :). I no longer go online at all if I tivo qual or a race since I've had it ruined before.


...I'm having difficulty understanding why in order to describe the greatness of one driver, one must put down another. Personally I find that the (37 yr old - not exactly young to be retiring) Schumacher was a great driver who would at times unfortunately resort to questionable on track antics. Hamilton, after 8 races of virtual perfection (as well mentioned by Wee Scott) is clearly not a 'mid pack' rookie in a great car - had that been the case he would not have out qualed his WC team mate more than once, and out placed him more than a few times as well.

Watch the races with less of a jaundiced eye and be shocked at what you might see.


Hey, are you the guy I spoiled a MotoGP result for by throwing it into the middle of an F1 thread, or was that some OTHER poor schmuck? :D Learned my lesson that day! Hot enough for you in NOVA? I think I'm gonna stay inside and race until hittin the pool later this afternoon.

[heez]

I never found out why Alonso left Renault. have not been keeping up to date in F1. But he did so well.

Its called money!

[rasfigjohn]

Its called money!

Fernando calls it "new challenge"... lol...
Also consider that he always said his dream was to drive for McLaren.

About driving aids... I don't think there is ABS in F1 nowadays... And next year no more TC... but I don't think it will make it more spectacular. Modern F1 is not a spectacular show that you would watch with a basket of popcorn. It takes time to really enjoy it. You have to read hundreds of boring interviews of pilots and understand the need for money of Bernie to really catch the subtle circus of Formula one. F1 is not a motorsport, that's a soap opera.
Fernando himself said that last year in Monza.

[James_1]

Amazing! Go Hamilton! The guys brilliant!

[Fool_1njection]

Then watch NASCAR ;) (ok i guess that might be a bit tough in Cape Town).

A reason for not providing spoilers in the title is that for any number of reasons, someone may miss qual/race (work, athletic training, - heck even real racing) and may TIVO it. You get home to watch, pop onto your favorite forum - and there in a title of a thread is the results you'd hoped to watch 'delayed' 'live'. Ask me how i know :). I no longer go online at all if I tivo qual or a race since I've had it ruined before.


...I'm having difficulty understanding why in order to describe the greatness of one driver, one must put down another. Personally I find that the (37 yr old - not exactly young to be retiring) Schumacher was a great driver who would at times unfortunately resort to questionable on track antics. Hamilton, after 8 races of virtual perfection (as well mentioned by Wee Scott) is clearly not a 'mid pack' rookie in a great car - had that been the case he would not have out qualed his WC team mate more than once, and out placed him more than a few times as well.

Watch the races with less of a jaundiced eye and be shocked at what you might see.

I do enjoy F1 and love the speed. I'm also totally against the FIA for changing Sh!T the whole time. The only changes I dont mind are ABS and TC. I hated the fact that they changed to V8. I want F1 to be advanced but not so much that the cars never pass each other. At this time it is not too bad. More passing and excitement would be apreciated. I still hate the FIA new rules changes all the time.

And yes, I do watch F1 without "jaundiced eyes". I see F1 for what it is. I would never expect it to be like go-cart racing with passing every 2 seconds.

[Fool_1njection]

Wait, you also said that in order to describe one you must put down another. I dont mean it like that. I just dont like Hamilton. I would rather have Alonso leading the championship. And I do admire Schumacher without having to diss another driver.

[rasfigjohn]

Remember how old Hakkinen was when he left and nobody said he was a coward. And now he enjoys driving in a lower class or racing than F1, but tougher and lots more competition.

I think snowy was joking when he said Schumi was a "chicken".
And I think you must be joking when you say "more competition". Believe me. Competition is not just what you see on a track during a couple of hours on sundays. To be a F1 driver means you have to be competitive 24 hours a day every single day of the year. Maybe more.
Except maybe for "Half" Schumacher... I did not know he was here this season before today.
The final point is that what you say about Hamilton today hundreds of Senna fans said that about Schumi when he came. And I even know some of them who keep on saying that even after all his titles. It does not make no sense to compare two pilots like this. The only way you can really compare 2 pilots is when you give them the same car throughout one season... and the least you can say is that Hamilton is far from being ridiculous next to the guy who kicked Schumi's *ss for 2 years in a row. (And I was supporting schumacher during these years)

No one will steal Schumi's titles. He will simply fade into F1 history. That's motorsports. That's life.

[Fool_1njection]

Well said.

[KarlosDaJackal]

I guess anyone who leaves F1 is a chicken then:down: I am yet to see Hamilton start from the back end cause of an engine failure and then plow his way thru the field like Schumacher did many times. And I bet I won't see that, its only an average rookie in the best car in the field

You mean like how kimi did in monaco? Oh no wait kimi didn't have an engine failure he crashed into a wall all on his own, and he didn't carve through the field, like schumacher had managed to in a previous season at monaco.

Kimi is boring and a noob. Massa has been better than him all season, he crashed out in qualifying in monaco, and he made a mistake in qual yet agian today, all these mistakes. Hamilton has not put a foot wrong all season and deserves to be leading the championship.

[analogkid66]

OK thx I'll remember that for next time:) but qualification has ended so if anyone hadn't seen it he'd probably check the official F1 site for the results:D

But what about us in the USA who would like to see it before knowing the Results!!

Please remember that we all aren't in the same Timezone here!

Were -8 Hours GMT!...luckily i watched it before i came to log into NG!

And it was a very fine qually session, go Hammy!!!!! :up:

cheers, analog.

[fpol]

Hey, are you the guy I spoiled a MotoGP result for by throwing it into the middle of an F1 thread, or was that some OTHER poor schmuck? :D Learned my lesson that day! Hot enough for you in NOVA? I think I'm gonna stay inside and race until hittin the pool later this afternoon.

Ha ha - didn't really spoil it, but it kind of took the suspense away. I think I watch too much racing anyway.

Want to check out a crazy racing day where one has to ignore the boards in order not to learn results - Tomorrow: ALMS (Lime Rock), F1, and CCWS (Toronto) are ALL on partially simultaneously and in HD, with IRL from Watkins Glen and GP2 a little later and again overlapping. Then there's that little thing - stage 1 of The Tour de France!

I'll have both DVRs working overtime - and will be wasting Sunday watching race after race after race.

...NOVA isn't that hot yet. I just got back from a training ride on the Bianchi - wasn't too bad. Monday, Tuesday and 96F+ looks *promising* though, and I'm riding both days :eek:.

[rasfigjohn]

As I remember, be4 Schumi beat Senna's, Fangio's and the other driver's records, they were remembered. After? I didn't hear about any of the others( well the older drivers will stay remembered by those who think that anyone who didn't die on track wasn't a good driver, you know GPL people). Only Senna, and thats because he was better in wins at Monaco and something other about his average winnings


So he will fade away in F1 and sport history after his records are beaten, which I highly doubt will be in near time

Records and statistics are good for bored journalists. People don't like pilots for statistics... They like them because they turn sundays into thrilling and emotional moments. I liked Prost, Ayrton, Schumi, Mika and many others because of that. I'll never FORGET them because they're part of my life. But they FADE into my memory.
You're wrong if you think that people love and will never forget Senna because of statistics. There was something in these years that disappeared after that Imola Week end and even before with all these driving aids in the cars. I know you've seen the footage and you probably know this better than me. The thing is that you did not live these seasons like I did. Believe me this makes a whole difference.

[rasfigjohn]

Statistics are proof of something, memories aren't;)
Statistics will be remember longer than memories IMO

Yes they'll last longer... We're into the times of computers obviously. But they're like a naked skeleton. They'll never tell the flesh, tears, sweat and blood.
Schumacher always said he did not care about beating records. I'm not so naive that I would believe him totally, but I sincerely doubt that behind his wheel he cared about figures.
He also always said that it was stupid to compare his career to Fangio's or even Senna's. That's what statistics do. They put everything on the same cold computerized level. That's why we'vegot to take them just for what they are and balance them with some historical and human perspective.

[Slick1]

yes true, but I prefer, the memory, that will give me a better feeling and comparing like that is wrong because everybody is different, and everybody has a different opinion, but the statistics crush that, and just make everything "logical". Oh the world's corruption, ah well, I'll have to deal with it and HAMILTON will too!

[heez]

Why does every F1 thread turn into 'F1 is boring thread'

[Slick1]

F1 one ain't boring, I think it is because all the people are watching it on television, I'm sure if y'all went to see it in person there would be different opinions, and we aren't doing that are we?

[Slick1]

:lol:

Formula One one, eh??:roflmao:

Mhm, I made such a mistake, the end of the world, I'm angry you spotted that.:roflmao: Good job:up::roflmao:

[fpol]

F1 one ain't boring, I think it is because all the people are watching it on television, I'm sure if y'all went to see it in person there would be different opinions, and we aren't doing that are we?

It's really great to see someone as young as you are able to enjoy the nuances of F1 - it can be really special sometimes.

[Slick1]

Thanks man, that's really nice of you. Very touching, so beautiful. Yes, it would be different if we went to watch a race, it would be more special and despite the fact that it can be boring, you can appreciate the fact that these drivers are close to killing themselves to give you a damn good race!

[RKipker]

I wouldn't bet against Hamilton! :p

He hasn't put a wheel wrong in 8+ Grands Prix, and after that Masterful performance in Q, I don't expect The Greatest F1 Rookie in History (yes, better even than MS) to start making mistakes tomorrow!

How can you NOT like him? Kimi sitting beside him in the Q press conference was his usual Sulking Automaton. Fernando talked (unconvincingly) about his good chances for tomorrow. Lewis was, as usual, delightful in his description of the energy boost he's gotten from his English (and international :D) fans, of his challenge in making up the .2 seconds he'd been losing in sector 1, and the difficulty and THRILL of winning pole! He lost his voice??? No, I lost MY voice shouting at my television as his time popped up on screen!

Go Lewis, beat Kimi ...and Fernando ...and Felipe! This is your Destiny!!! :up: :up: :up: :up: :up:

Wee... you hit the "Nail on the Head" Bro!

How could anyone who likes F-1 not like Hamilton! The kid is full of energy, humble, polite, complementary of his fellow competitors, and extremely talented! Everything to like in a Very TALENTED Racer!

I like all the racers... I mean all, even Ralph.... I respect the work and commitment they all have. However, I can not accept comments like DC and RS make like they're as good as Hamilton when they know they not. Alonso and Kimi showed they're arrogance IMHO during the interviews.

You would think Alonso would be complimenting Hamilton... like RC does Bubba

I've raced Motocross since 1974 through 2002, nothing like a holeshot for those who know what I mean! Sorry, distracted, my point is over the years, folks/racers like Hamilton are a pleasure to be around.... problem is usually with others and there family/friends/fans…. It’s called ….Jealously


Bottom line is if you like racing and F-1…. You have to respect him, he is the “REAL DEAL”

And one more comments…. Please don’t post the results… folks these days have DVR’s… and watch when time allows…. :roflmao:

Great comments and conversation on this thread! :D

[RKipker]

Then watch NASCAR ;) (ok i guess that might be a bit tough in Cape Town).

A reason for not providing spoilers in the title is that for any number of reasons, someone may miss qual/race (work, athletic training, - heck even real racing) and may TIVO it. You get home to watch, pop onto your favorite forum - and there in a title of a thread is the results you'd hoped to watch 'delayed' 'live'. Ask me how i know :). I no longer go online at all if I tivo qual or a race since I've had it ruined before.


...I'm having difficulty understanding why in order to describe the greatness of one driver, one must put down another. Personally I find that the (37 yr old - not exactly young to be retiring) Schumacher was a great driver who would at times unfortunately resort to questionable on track antics. Hamilton, after 8 races of virtual perfection (as well mentioned by Wee Scott) is clearly not a 'mid pack' rookie in a great car - had that been the case he would not have out qualed his WC team mate more than once, and out placed him more than a few times as well.

Watch the races with less of a jaundiced eye and be shocked at what you might see.


Well said... on both points!

[Fool_1njection]

I dont get to watch the quali's or practices anymore, that's the main reason I'm behind in F1. Hamilton does look like a nice guy but I only see him in the car. I did see a documentary or part of it showing all the Fitness training he does. He is very commited.

F1 used to be like G-D to me, soon I will be watching it 24-7 again.

Live, breath and eat motorsport.

[rasfigjohn]

I dont get to watch the quali's or practices anymore, that's the main reason I'm behind in F1. Hamilton does look like a nice guy but I only see him in the car. I did see a documentary or part of it showing all the Fitness training he does. He is very commited.


All of them are very commited... except maybe Half Schumacher :D.
And that's not really important if he's nice or not except maybe for the tabloids and people who don't usually watch F1 races. The only important thing for a driver is to be fast.
Today, Kimi and Fernando showed they were still here... which some people had forgotten.
I'm really happy for Raikkonen who had a couple of bad years.
This result is good because it makes the championship even more interesting.

[Slick1]

Yes, very cool!

[RKipker]

:lol:

"Your" boy needs to learn to do pitstops well......:D

Lowndes888; guess you thought you were being cute with this comment! I loggged into the board prior to watching the race, thinking no way I would find out what might had happen during the race, and read this!

Closed board, and new Hamilton must of had an error in the pits costing him the race or at the least positions! Thanks Bro... after many folks asked not to post or comment on the race cause some folks are in different time zones/record the race!

Anyway, Mr. Hamilton still has done what No OTHER F-1 Rookie has ever ever accomplished... 9 races = 9 podium finishes

[lowndes888]

OK then I'll STFU about F1 and commenting anything around F1 okay? Since you're all Senna and little kiddo here fans
Still, it is only an average rookie in a reliable and very fast car. Don't forget that

I haven't got in my plan on getting banned cause of McLaren kiddo here....:mad:
BTW it was meant for rasfigjohn and snowy here, Lewis fanboys
And I deleted my posts cause they were off topic plus don't wanna listen to lewis fanboys...

[Slick1]

Ohh, maybe we have a fight on our hands here, here we go again...nah not really, he isn't average or he won't be beating alonso by soo much, am I wrong? Anyways, "lewis fanboys" only half the championship is done and anything can still happen and then they have years to come, lewis may never win a championship, may be good but never win that's a possibility too, also stop comparing drivers, we all know that schumi and senna are great drivers, leave it is that, lets not start this into an arguement, qualifying is over and certain people won the race.

[rasfigjohn]

OK then I'll STFU about F1 and commenting anything around F1 okay? Since you're all Senna and little kiddo here fans
Still, it is only an average rookie in a reliable and very fast car. Don't forget that

I haven't got in my plan on getting banned cause of McLaren kiddo here....:mad:
BTW it was meant for rasfigjohn and snowy here, Lewis fanboys
And I deleted my posts cause they were off topic plus don't wanna listen to lewis fanboys...

Glad to hear I'm a "Lewis fanboy". I won't try to justify myself on that. I'm just a motorsports fanboy like we all here.
I just hope some will grow up soon and stop thinking they're free thinkers and great rebels just because they bash a popular F1 pilot in an internet forum.
But I've been a teen too. I had my "rebel without a cause" years...
Ok... that was my 2 cents psychoanalysis of the day. :D

[DocZ]

OK then I'll STFU about F1 and commenting anything around F1 okay? Since you're all Senna and little kiddo here fans
Still, it is only an average rookie in a reliable and very fast car. Don't forget that

I haven't got in my plan on getting banned cause of McLaren kiddo here....:mad:
BTW it was meant for rasfigjohn and snowy here, Lewis fanboys
And I deleted my posts cause they were off topic plus don't wanna listen to lewis fanboys...

Then avoid the thread. As should anyone who doesn't want to know the result before the race tape is run in his timezone. It's really not that hard to keep yourself from getting all riled up.

[heez]

Lowndes888; guess you thought you were being cute with this comment! I loggged into the board prior to watching the race, thinking no way I would find out what might had happen during the race, and read this!

Why come into the thread then? what did you expect to happen? people NOT talking about the Silverstone GP?

Anyway, not a bad race in all. still a bit of a bore-fest. Massa entertained me a little but about it. I thought Kimi should of had a better go at Hamilton and personally, he blocked a little to stay in front but he would never of got penalised.

And to Lewis Hamilton. Is he a wonderkid or is he in a wondercar. Personally the latter. He wouldn't of been able to do what he has done in any other car(Except Ferrari), maybe the BMW but i anyone else... NO. The coverage before the Race i got was Lewis Hamilton this, Lewis Hamilton that! It is really starting to p*ss me off! I mean how many times can they show you his 'story'? from Karting and meeting Ron Dennis to where he is now!
F*CKSAKE!!

[rasfigjohn]

And to Lewis Hamilton. Is he a wonderkid or is he in a wondercar. Personally the latter. He wouldn't of been able to do what he has done in any other car(Except Ferrari), maybe the BMW but i anyone else... NO. The coverage before the Race i got was Lewis Hamilton this, Lewis Hamilton that! It is really starting to p*ss me off! I mean how many times can they show you his 'story'? from Karting and meeting Ron Dennis to where he is now!
F*CKSAKE!!

So you mean he wouldn't have been able to win a single race in a Toro Rosso? Well... I think even Gerhard Berger would agree with that. Did you notice that only 2 cars won GPs this year. You can not do nothing if you don't have a good car in modern F1.
About the karting story... Well... I think tv can still show it and tell it a thousand times, it's not aimed at you. It's for the people who don't usually watch F1 races. Those who will buy the new diet soda shown during the commercials.

[heez]

I didnt mean win i meant get on the podium. Would Gerhard agree with that? probably still. It still means he isn't a wonderkid.

about the karting story again, here they have at least 45 mins of him, before they say something about the actual race! AND theyve had a few dedicated shows to him!

[Spookey]

............I'm sure if y'all went to see it in person there would be different opinions, and we aren't doing that are we?

Some of us are! I just got back from 3 days at Silverstone - what a cracking week-end! The bad weather they threatened didn't show up but an unprecidented (and estimated by the media) did! Quoted figures are 45,000 on Friday for free practice, 80,000 on Saturday for qualifying (2,000 more than watche the race last year!) and 100,000 for Sunday's race!

Best week-end I've had since Magny Cours in 2004 (last GP I attended).

Highlight of the week-end? Gotta be a choice of two -

Lewis' pole run on Saturday; or

Meeting the Santander pit girls also on Saturday!

[rasfigjohn]

I didnt mean win i meant get on the podium. Would Gerhard agree with that? probably still. It still means he isn't a wonderkid.

about the karting story again, here they have at least 45 mins of him, before they say something about the actual race! AND theyve had a few dedicated shows to him!

Yeah I know... Medias create artificial phenomena and then say "wow! What an incredible phenomenon!" . Now only history will tell us whether he is a "wonderkid" or not.
Here on french tv it's been cool in the beginning because they were still certain that Sebastien Bourdais or Franck Montagny would make it this season. Now we know that they won't, the french media focus on Hamilton as everyone else. Now it's up to us not to let us manipulate by medias in a way or the other: to separate the media creature from the real person. And that's a general rule I have: except for races I don't watch TV. And sometimes I even switch off the sounds.

[Wee Scot]

Ha ha - didn't really spoil it, but it kind of took the suspense away. I think I watch too much racing anyway.

Want to check out a crazy racing day where one has to ignore the boards in order not to learn results - Tomorrow: ALMS (Lime Rock), F1, and CCWS (Toronto) are ALL on partially simultaneously and in HD, with IRL from Watkins Glen and GP2 a little later and again overlapping. Then there's that little thing - stage 1 of The Tour de France!

I'll have both DVRs working overtime - and will be wasting Sunday watching race after race after race.

...NOVA isn't that hot yet. I just got back from a training ride on the Bianchi - wasn't too bad. Monday, Tuesday and 96F+ looks *promising* though, and I'm riding both days :eek:.
fpol, are your eyes still focusing, or are they wandering in different directions? :D Dude, that's TOO much racing for one day!

I spent the morning taking my youngest daughter to board a bus to Girl Scout camp. When they finally pulled out a few minutes after 11 I said, "Okay, we've got two hours before I've got to be in front of a television." My neighbor, who'd driven us and my daughter's best friend to this rendezvous, said, "What happens at 1?" "The British Grand Prix from Silverstone," I replied. Mike knows of my passion for motorsports and computer racing sims. He's tried a few laps of rFactor and GTR2 at my computer and also loves cars and going fast. He's never really grown up; he plays the drums for a US Army band based in DC, and for his own little band on weekends. He's a great, fun-loving guy. "Why don't you come over and watch it at our place," he said, knowing I'd jump at the chance. He's got quite the HD home theater set up in his basement.

So, after we all had lunch at Mike's American Grill in Springfield, I spent a wonderful afternoon watching racing, answering his 200 questions about F1 vs. Indy vs. Champcar vs. NASCAR, and drinking his German beer! After F1 was over we watched golf for 30 minutes before switching to the Indy cars at Watkins Glen. I think I've developed a NEW open-wheel racing fanatic!!!

On the chance you still haven't finished your DVR marathon, I won't reveal any of the results. I'll save that for tomorrow. THEN I'm going to address SEVERAL of the recent posts on this thread... ;)

Oh, and do you ride your bicycle to work? How far a ride is that? You must have a good locker room in your building! A few years ago when I was still working in Tyson's Corner we had great showers and lockers. I used to play tennis at lunch and be back at my desk in a tie 30 minutes after coming off the court!

[Fool_1njection]

Why does every one always bash people when they share their opinions. Like Lowndes, every one attacked him because they dont like their "boys" being dissed by a "rebel" teenager. Ok, he might have said some things a bit harsh but still. We should all be friends here, we are all entitled to our opinions even if other people dont like them.

Just watched the race now, not live but it was good. GO KIMI and ALONSO.

Too bad Hammi did not hit a wall or something. Just kidding.

[rasfigjohn]

Why does every one always bash people when they share their opinions. Like Lowndes, every one attacked him because they dont like their "boys" being dissed by a "rebel" teenager.

You started by saying "I hate Hammerton" and as far as I can tell I never bashed you in this thread. I respect your opinion as I would have respected lowndes888's opinion if he had been as humble as you've been in your words. You can not start a fire and then complain when it's getting hot.
I think that's my last post in this thread. That's exhausting to be a "lewis fanboy" :D.
Good night and please show love and not bitterness. Here and elsewhere.

[Slick1]

*sighs*, here we go again, another useless arguement, you know if this is what is going to happen everytime a F1 thread is started then y'all should stop starting them, all you do is argue, can't you just respect opinions, lowndes, hamilton is not average or he wouldn't beating alonso but we don't know if he is the best though right now in the championship unless everybody were driving the same cars, but that isn't happening so, we will have to deal with it, oh and the championship isn't over yet. Stop bashing hamilton, he got lucky, nobody can disagree with that, half luck and half skill, he is lucky to get a good car for if he didn't he wouldn't be where he is right now.;) Stop argueing people, just stop argueing, it's tireding and pointless and it serves no purpose.:(

[Wee Scot]

OK, sorry RKipker, but I can't hold back. Thanks for the compliments, BTW.

Point 1: Nobody who is a true F1 fan and a student of racing history will EVER forget Nuvolari, Ascari, Fangio, Moss, Clark, Hill, Brabham, Stewart, Fittipaldi, Lauda, Villeneuve, Piquet, Prost, Senna, Mansell, Schumacher, Hakkinen, Alonzo, ...or Hamilton. Schumacher was/is disliked by many racing fans, but I always thought he was smart and thoughtful in his public statements about racing yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He knew it was silly to try to compare drivers from different eras. Yet, after he won his 6th title and was asked about surpassing Fangio, he said: "Fangio is on a level much higher than I see myself. What he did stands alone and what we have achieved is also unique. I have such respect for what he achieved. You can't take a personality like Fangio and compare him with what has happened today. There is not even the slightest comparison." Was this false modesty? I don't think so. But even Schumacher cannot make such a judgement.

I think it's technically accurate to say that the best drivers of the "modern" era are better than any who went before, simply because they've had opportunities to develop their skills and their fitness that earlier drivers never dreamed of. If Fangio had been born in 1969 instead of 1911, would he have won 7 championships instead of 5? Would he have won 10? Maybe the skills and/or mental toughness that set him apart from his peers would have translated into a similar superiority in the 21st century, but maybe not. No one can really measure that. Nobody knows. He never had to demonstrate either the lightning reflexes or the physical stamina that it takes to drive today's F1 cars to the limit. But nobody should care, really. He was simply one of the Greats, and that should be all we talk about. To borrow a phrase from Tom Wolfe, he had the Right Stuff. So did all of the drivers I've listed, and so does an amazing young Briton who just stood on his 9th podium in his 9 race F1 career. To us "old" F1 fans, there are probably dozens of "unforgettable" drivers who gave us at least one big thrill in our years of watching races, whether in person on on television. None of them need be forgotten or replaced by the latest hotshoe.

Point 2: Yes, Lewis is in one of the best two cars, but lots of young drivers--and not just F1 rookies--have been in that position without getting the results Hamilton has achieved, either in terms of race speed or consistency. I'm not an F1 historian, but I think I'm safe in saying no one has EVER had the start Lewis has had. Today he didn't have the fastest car. Despite pulling out an incredibly impressive pole-winning lap yesterday afternoon, it turns out Massa was right: Lewis was the "lightest" of the four title contenders at the start and made the first pit stop. And that little bobble in the pits -- which he caught and stopped almost as quickly as he made it -- didn't cost him more than three or four seconds and would have made no difference to where he finished today. Nobody has ever been fastest EVERY weekend (though Clark and Senna came close to that a couple of years). Kimi drove a perfect race today and Fernando also drove great without a noticeable mistake.

Point 3: The debrief from the British Grand Prix? The Ferrari is still the faster package right now, as it was in France, but there's no reason to believe the balance can't tip again. There are four drivers fighting for the championship. When's the last time we could say THAT!? This has shaped up into a Great season. ...and Lewis is still the man to catch! :D

[lowndes888]

This has shaped up into a Great season. ...and Lewis is still the man to catch! :D

Uhm, not quite. Infact, this one(championshit...ah championship I meant...:p) is over for me. It's pointless. I'll be waiting for Sebastien Bourdais or Gary Paffett in F1 2008

But carry on, I'm no longer commenting on Lewie here:D

[RKipker]

Hey Guys No Big Deal! It's all good!

[RKipker]

Why come into the thread then? what did you expect to happen? people NOT talking about the Silverstone GP?

Actually, the thread was still titled Silverstone Qualifying not Silverstone 2007!

Anyway, no big deal, but no way you can call Hamilton a Average Rookie.... Average my A$$!

Plus, I'm not a Hamilton boy.... I'm a Motorsports fan! Heck, I was pulling for Kimi just so the Championship will stay close and come down to the laast couple races!

If I'm anybody's FANBOY... it would be the "GOAT... Greatest Of All Time" in the toughest motorsport of all! Ricky Carmichael MX/SX Champion!!!!

And Lownedes... don't let our opionin changes your view or comments... it's a great thread, good discusion! You know what opinons are anyway... we all have one and being of diferent opinioon is what makes the thread interesting! I for one have no hard feelings... all I meant was I knew something was going to happen., and it took the edge off the race! But you guys are right, I logged on, though I thought there would be more comments on the Qualifying discussion!

Hope you reconsider discusion F1 and Hamilton.... though IMHO he is still well above average! scott speed is average, he's the one I would love to see pull out a podium.... :)

Lowndes888 I owe you an appoligy, I did not mean for my comment to attack you personnelly! I do appoligize to you and welcome your opionion! Don't let anyone son change your mind if it's your belief! MS is by far one of the greastest of all timee in F1 and last year I was pulling for him to catch Alonso believe me!

[fpol]

fpol, are your eyes still focusing, or are they wandering in different directions? :D Dude, that's TOO much racing for one day!....



Though we pretty much watched all the same racing, your day sounded WAY better than mine. First, for whatever reason, Comcast HD channels were horrible today, so I watched/recorded everything on regularTV. Bummer.

I started with F1 debrief (recorded Friday) leading up to F1, then F1 followed by IRL live, switched over to the DVR to watch he recorded Champcar race, and just got through with the Tour de France from England (...!...) at 2300hrs. Thank god no Moto GP or AMA Superbikes this week as that would be just too much! I'll watch my DVR'd ALMS tomorrow probably since I'm off work. Then out of the next four week, I'm actually driving on track 3 different times - 3 days at Shenandoah, and 2 days at VIR - and some of those days correspond to more racing on the tube so the DVRs are going to be very busy.

I don't ride to work - but we have a full shower in the gym there so it would be no problem. I live about 5 blocks from work here in Arlington so sometimes i just walk.

Think I'll *finally* go jump on the sim for a few laps with ALMS cars at Lime Rock or Laguna.

[fpol]

I just hope some will grow up soon and stop thinking they're free thinkers and great rebels just because they bash a popular F1 pilot in an internet forum.
But I've been a teen too. I had my "rebel without a cause" years...
Ok... that was my 2 cents psychoanalysis of the day. :D

I really think you've nailed it. ..and also, it's tough to see *your* guy beaten by another - so you look for excuses. It's typical of racers themselves - you'll very rarely even hear a grassroots guy he was beaten by a better driver - just a better car/bike.


:) - past my teenage "rebel without a cause" phase myself - now I'm trying but failing at the older and wiser bit.

[Roger]

I never found out why Alonso left Renault. have not been keeping up to date in F1. But he did so well.

Serious answer - everyone seems to forget, when FA started getting serious with Ron, Renault were hinting that they may not be in F1 from 2008.

Now, if you were Alonso - with that in your mind and with Ron Dennis waving you into his F1 facility - the smart money would head for the Ronster's little garagiste operation :D. Does anyone doubt that McLaren's reason for existing is F1 and nothing else, would anyone doubt that McLaren would - at some point - be giving him a championship winning car.

To me, it's clear - FA went to McLaren for performance reasons :up:

Anyway - I tuned into the race hoping to see a Hamilton win :cry: - there ya go..........but wow! Great to see Kimi's searing pace up to the first stops. Alonso looked a bit handy short-stopping and some of the in-car stuff with Massa was just great.

In fact - a pretty good race right through the field (by F1 standards).

[Leper Messiah]

Hamilton is a class act, but he has several things in his favour.

1) he's probably the most groomed racer in the history of F1. (probably in the history of ALL motorsport).

2) he's in a team that is at the top of the game.

3) he had nothing to prove this season, no pressure (Silverstone was his first pressure and he wobbled)

4) he's the only one of the top four to have consistant luck with car reliability (something that is beyond his control).

I'm a Brit but I do not support Hamilton, he's too....well..."manufactured" for my liking, I'll continue to support Button.

[Fool_1njection]

I must say, the race was not too bad. I like Raikonen, Alonso and Massa. I actually wanted Massa to win but then he stalled his dam car. Looking forward to the next round.

Yesterday something inspired me watching the GP and now today I started playing F1 2007 in gtr2. AI and pit stops could need improvement to drive these cars in gtr2 better.

[Wee Scot]

Hamilton is a class act, but he has several things in his favour.

1) he's probably the most groomed racer in the history of F1. (probably in the history of ALL motorsport).

2) he's in a team that is at the top of the game.

3) he had nothing to prove this season, no pressure (Silverstone was his first pressure and he wobbled)

4) he's the only one of the top four to have consistant luck with car reliability (something that is beyond his control).

I'm a Brit but I do not support Hamilton, he's too....well..."manufactured" for my liking, I'll continue to support Button.

BUTTON!? :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
...good luck with THAT. He's like Coulthard: a pretty boy who's never made the grade... Ah, but there we go again, bashing someone else's favorite. Please forgive me. :rolleyes:

[heez]

At least DC has won more than one race and has been in a decent team

[Wee Scot]

At least DC has won more than one race and has been in a decent team

My point, exactly! With Williams in 1994 DC had the best equipment, yet in 8 races he scored: one 2nd, one 4th, two 5ths, and a 6th while his only marginally more experienced teammate -- hardly an Alonzo and on no one's Hall of Fame list -- fought MS down to the last race for the title! Mansell made a guest appearance in Adelaide, reaquainting himself with F1 after a championship season of CART, and won the race!

I REPEAT: no one has EVER done what Hamilton has done this season. And he will only get BETTER!

[RKipker]

DC is drivng as well as Hamilton... and if you don't believe me, just ask DC... :roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

[Dzul]

:rolleyes:

Sobering race to watch, Silverstone...
and a truly hearty thread to read, this.

Keep the chat going! :D

Statistics are facts...
memories are feelings.

I'm bored at work, can you notice? ;)

[Leper Messiah]

BUTTON!? :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
...good luck with THAT. He's like Coulthard: a pretty boy who's never made the grade... Ah, but there we go again, bashing someone else's favorite. Please forgive me. :rolleyes:

mature reply, I'm impressed <-- I lied

[rasfigjohn]

:rolleyes:
Keep the chat going! :D

Statistics are facts...
memories are feelings.

I'm bored at work, can you notice? ;)

Ok I said I would not post in the thread again but as Dzul is bored I feel like I have to... :D
I think this is an important question. I'm not sure there is such thing as facts. When we say statistics are facts we pretend they're the undeniable truth. Statistics are not pure facts. They can be used only if you compare them to other stats.
The problem is that you can not compare for example Fangio's career to Schumi's comparing their statistics. It just wouldn't mean nothing. They both were on formula one but it's not the same sport at all.
We can not rely neither on feelings to compare things... so maybe we should just stop comparing pilots like this.
and personnally... I prefer people's feelings to pure cold statistics.

[washington96]

I was a big Shuey fan and was gutted when he retired last year. I was wondering if I would still find it interesting this year and all I can say is thanks goodness that Hamilton came along. Nice to see a driver who doesn't winge and whine like most of them nowadays. I just hope he stays that way.

I think there is no doubt that Hamilton is the real deal. Luck for one or two races maybe, but podiums for eight out of eight races is stretching the 'average rookie in the best car' comment. If that's the case what the hell is Alonso doing in the sister car. Reading a book???

[Wee Scot]

mature reply, I'm impressed <-- I lied

I'm afraid the question of "maturity" is more properly asked of Button and Coulthard. While those "mates" were living fast and loose, Ron Dennis and Lewis Hamilton were preparing a career of Epic proportions.

[lowndes888]

The thing I liked about MS, and older drivers, was that they would go either win or crash. MS was never satisfied with a lower place than 1st. Now on Silverstone's podium everyone looked like dead farts and Hamilton just smiled, knowing that the points system allows him to hold the lead:down:

[washington96]

I agree with you there. It's time we went back to the old score system - 10 for first 6 for second and so on. Why push for the win when it's only worth 2 extra points at the risk of going off or blowing the engine.

The thing I liked most about MS was that he could win races that he really shouldn't have. You knew that he was giving 100% from start to finish and that he was always thinking and adapting to the race situations.

But lets give Hamilton a chance. After his performance so far this year he at least deserves that. There have been other drivers that have sat in the best car on the grid and done nothing with it. Hamilton has come out and nailed it from the get-go. You can't ask for more than that.

[lowndes888]

I agree with you there. It's time we went back to the old score system - 10 for first 6 for second and so on. Why push for the win when it's only worth 2 extra points at the risk of going off or blowing the engine.

The thing I liked most about MS was that he could win races that he really shouldn't have. You knew that he was giving 100% from start to finish and that he was always thinking and adapting to the race situations.

But lets give Hamilton a chance. After his performance so far this year he at least deserves that. There have been other drivers that have sat in the best car on the grid and done nothing with it. Hamilton has come out and nailed it from the get-go. You can't ask for more than that.

Yes but no one today, even him, drives the best he can, they're only looking after their tyres and bullshit like that. They don't push as hard as they can, like MS and other drivers did. Even Hakkinen drove that way, win or crash/burn/retire. Thats entertaining. Its like DTM sadly. In 2006, Bernd Schneider won the championship with 2 wins and 6 second places, while B.Spengler won 4 races but was vice champion


In short terms, no one gives a feck about winning, as long as they're in the points

[Wee Scot]

I agree with you there. It's time we went back to the old score system - 10 for first 6 for second and so on. Why push for the win when it's only worth 2 extra points at the risk of going off or blowing the engine.



Totally agree. Try this:

20, 10, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Championships ought to be about WINNING! (I wonder how many times such a scoring system would have changed who won a championship? If I get REALLY bored this afternoon I'll go back through some and check.)

[washington96]

I think you'll find that MS was one of the best when it came to looking after his tyres. That's part of racing!

There's nothing wrong with a bit of strategy. The problem is the lack of overtaking. When they do something about the downforce, get rid of TC and automatic gear boxes then maybe we can go back to the racing days of old.

To say that Hamilton is not driving to his and his cars limit doesn't hold true. There is no point in going out driving the six fastest laps of the race then driving 15 of the slowest laps of the race because you have worn your tyres out. No championship winning driver has ever done that. Not even Senna who had to be one of the most aggressive (and brilliant) drivers ever did that. A race drivers job is to drive not only to his own limit, but to the limit of his car and to bring it home in the fastest time possible.

Sorry Lowndes, but we will just have to agree to disagree on the Hamilton issue. Your not impressed, but I think he has earned all the credit he deserves with his previous history before F1 (GP2 etc.) I have to wonder though what a driver has to do to get your praise???

[Spookey]

IMO, 20/10/7 etc is a bit too extreme, given the limited overtaking opertunities in the current cars/tracks.

I'd like to see maybe a 16/10/6/5/4/3/2/1 split with an additional 2 points for pole and 1 or 2 points for fastest lap.

[lowndes888]

Sorry Lowndes, but we will just have to agree to disagree on the Hamilton issue. Your not impressed, but I think he has earned all the credit he deserves with his previous history before F1 (GP2 etc.) I have to wonder though what a driver has to do to get your praise???


Win a championship fighting and overtaking, not with 2nd and 3rd places like Alonso did in 2005

[washington96]

That's the championship format that's at fault, not the drivers. One no finish and it's a hell of an uphill climb to get back into contention. You have to win the next five races to get back the ten points you lost in that one race you didn't finish.

But you can't blame Hamilton, Alonso et al for that. Max Mosely's yer man to lay the lame on!

[Fool_1njection]

The thing I liked about MS, and older drivers, was that they would go either win or crash. MS was never satisfied with a lower place than 1st. Now on Silverstone's podium everyone looked like dead farts and Hamilton just smiled, knowing that the points system allows him to hold the lead:down:

Well said lownes, not just because I was a MS fan but because it's so true.:up:

I've noticed how dead the podium seems since MS has left:eek:, it could just be my eyes but the drivers seem bored or they could be tired.

[Fool_1njection]

I agree with you there. It's time we went back to the old score system - 10 for first 6 for second and so on. Why push for the win when it's only worth 2 extra points at the risk of going off or blowing the engine.

The thing I liked most about MS was that he could win races that he really shouldn't have. You knew that he was giving 100% from start to finish and that he was always thinking and adapting to the race situations..

I agree with the first part:up:, there was so much more risk with the old points system, push hard to finnish first or drop the pace, possibly save the car but lose the championship.:eek:

Well said in the second part too (MS):p.

[Fool_1njection]

That's the championship format that's at fault, not the drivers. One no finish and it's a hell of an uphill climb to get back into contention. You have to win the next five races to get back the ten points you lost in that one race you didn't finish.

But you can't blame Hamilton, Alonso et al for that. Max Mosely's yer man to lay the lame on!

Why dont we all just arrive at Max's door with big bats and repaint his house red.:eek:

[Spookey]

FFS - I try to put honest input into threads - OK, I know I'm fairly new on here - but it seems I'm either the "thread-killer" or the "ignore the poster" guy.

OK, I know that you guys don't know me - but I'm a self-confessed forum-whore! It just seems that anything I post is disregarded.:confused:

[rasfigjohn]

Well... That's crazy. I remember when people were saying that Michael Schumacher almost killed Formula One because he was winning everything and it was boring. Now this year after 9 races we have 4 different winners and still we're not happy. In 2001 he won the championship with almost twice the points of Coultard the 2nd! The same with Rubens in 2002.
If you really want things to change in F1... stop watching it ... maybe it will make FOM think a little bit if people just stopped watching it considering that's where the money comes from.
OR maybe you should just sit back relax and enjoy the show... that's what I do and did ... even in 2002 and 2003.
And frankly that's easy for us ... computer drivers to say that these guys don't push their cars.

[DocZ]

Just to add another thing to the mix, under the present regs an engine must last two races or the car faces fairly drastic grid penalties.

Saving engines and tires doesn't make for win or die racing, but those regs are there for the simple reason that F1 doesn't want drivers to win or die. The sport suffered drastically during the years when the careers of many of the best driver were cut short by crashes.

F1 is really about car building and the constructors championship means more to the teams than the driver championship.

I know the idea of safe racing probably doesn't appeal to a 15-year-old, but it does to a lot of other people.

[fpol]

My point, exactly! With Williams in 1994 DC had the best equipment, yet in 8 races he scored: one 2nd, one 4th, two 5ths, and a 6th while his only marginally more experienced teammate -- hardly an Alonzo and on no one's Hall of Fame list -- fought MS down to the last race for the title! Mansell made a guest appearance in Adelaide, reaquainting himself with F1 after a championship season of CART, and won the race!

I REPEAT: no one has EVER done what Hamilton has done this season. And he will only get BETTER!

Now why would you have to go and rely on history to give a rational response like that ;).

Some people slagging off Hamilton were 3-4 yrs old back in 94, so the relevance of what you're saying probably eludes them. Of course they may well be making the same reasoned argument when they're older and have seen more than just a few years of racing - and in fact sports in general.

[Wee Scot]

Now why would you have to go and rely on history to give a rational response like that ;).

Some people slagging off Hamilton were 3-4 yrs old back in 94, so the relevance of what you're saying probably eludes them. Of course they may well be making the same reasoned argument when they're older and have seen more than just a few years of racing - and in fact sports in general.

Thanks, fpol. Nice to be appreciated. :)

[Leper Messiah]

I'm afraid the question of "maturity" is more properly asked of Button and Coulthard. While those "mates" were living fast and loose, Ron Dennis and Lewis Hamilton were preparing a career of Epic proportions.

What amazes me is the utter arrogant assumption that Hamilton is already the greatest ever driver. That truly belittles every single other driver in the history of F1 and something I will not lower myself to. I was a big fan of Hamilton in GP2, but I must admit the response and over the top fanboyism has soured my thoughts towards him. I think I need a sick bucket by my side constantly for the inevitable puke at the adulation and ass kissing.

All Hamilton has proved is what most people interested in motorsports already knew...that he was a superbly skilled driver, potentially one of the greatest. That, coupled with good fortune, has enabled him to have the best start in F1 history for a rookie. But I fear that this will mean that more and more F1 teams will groom their future drivers which will restrict access to F1 to other equally talented, but less fortunate drivers.

I also fear that F1 with Hamilton at the top could become even more boring (which is something I never thought possible), at least with other top drivers you knew there was a chance something could go wrong, but at this rate Hamilton will dominate....and I bet that he won't go to a struggling team and build them up to dominate like Schumacher did.

For me a sign of greatness is not winning when things are going well, but dragging a good result and even a win when things are going badly. THAT is what separates the great from the good. Hamilton has not had that. So maybe Hamilton Fans should have a bit of a reality check, otherwise they're going to create an equally vibrant "we hate hamilton" club. Which to be fair would be a complete injustice to the kid.

[washington96]

Who said he was the greatest ever driver? Too early to say that, but as you said yourself he is a superbly skilled driver with the potential to be one of the greatest. So people are getting a bit excited about something new to the sport. Lets see how he deals with the hard times before we make assumptions.

You can't not like the guy just because the press and so called F1 pundits are hailing his excellent start to the season. Would you like him better if he made more mistakes and drove slower? He's done the time learning his trade and now he is getting the credit for it. I don't understand why you are having a pop at Hamilton whilst there are a number of drivers in the field who obviously don't have the racing instinct and do nothing for the sport. How many times have we heard Renault get on the radio to tell Fizzyfella he needs to speed up and then he does. If you need to be told to drive to your limit and it's not a natural instinct then you are wasting the seat that somebody else could occupy.

So there are no 'arrogant assumptions' here my friend, just somebody who is pleased to see a new driver with a set of balls 'racing' around the track instead of the glut of drivers who seem to just want to drive around the track and make it to the finish and pick up their pay slip.

[rasfigjohn]

Nicely said Washington96... I wish I could speak english like that...:D.
I think we can not avoid the "we hate Hamilton" club. We had the same with MS.

[Leper Messiah]

Who said he was the greatest ever driver? Too early to say that, but as you said yourself he is a superbly skilled driver with the potential to be one of the greatest. So people are getting a bit excited about something new to the sport. Lets see how he deals with the hard times before we make assumptions.

You can't not like the guy just because the press and so called F1 pundits are hailing his excellent start to the season. Would you like him better if he made more mistakes and drove slower? He's done the time learning his trade and now he is getting the credit for it. I don't understand why you are having a pop at Hamilton whilst there are a number of drivers in the field who obviously don't have the racing instinct and do nothing for the sport. How many times have we heard Renault get on the radio to tell Fizzyfella he needs to speed up and then he does. If you need to be told to drive to your limit and it's not a natural instinct then you are wasting the seat that somebody else could occupy.

So there are no 'arrogant assumptions' here my friend, just somebody who is pleased to see a new driver with a set of balls 'racing' around the track instead of the glut of drivers who seem to just want to drive around the track and make it to the finish and pick up their pay slip.

Loads of people are saying it and ,reading between the lines, people are saying it here. "Lets see how he deals with the hard times before we make assumptions. " that's exactly what I mean.

I do not dislike Hamilton, at no point have I said that. In fact I've used nothing but superlatives when describing his talent. In almost every facet of human nature, something that is overly loved is equally hated. Which leads me to the final line of my post "Which to be fair would be a complete injustice to the kid."

I'm not having a pop at Hamilton, I'm having a pop at his fanbase, and the "manufactured" nature of his career so far, which I feel has given him a massive and unfair advantage over others at similar times in their careers.

This is what I don't like, you slag off "Fizzyfella". Yes he may not be as good as other drivers, yet he still puts his life on the line and if you think it's a case of just picking up a pay slip, then that is exactly the disservice to other drivers that is clearly coming out from Hamilton fans. So in a way you proved one of my points.

[Dzul]

The thing I liked about MS, and older drivers, was that they would go either win or crash. MS was never satisfied with a lower place than 1st.

Anybody else thought first about Windows instead of F1 after reading that? :D

[rasfigjohn]

I'm not having a pop at Hamilton, I'm having a pop at his fanbase, and the "manufactured" nature of his career so far, which I feel has given him a massive and unfair advantage over others at similar times in their careers.


I wish you could name one pilot in F1 today whose career is not "manufactured"...
The word "unfair" seems a bit naive speaking of Formula One.
F1 is not racing. It's a business with cars. If you want fair racing I think you should try something else... like karting maybe.

[rasfigjohn]

Anybody else thought first about Windows instead of F1 after reading that? :D

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao: :up:

That's what I say from the beginning... always use the newest drivers for maximum performance! :D

[Petty Andretti]

I agree with many of the comments that Leper Messiah has said. I think Hamiltion already HAS been regarded as one of the greatest drivers ever. Forget about the fans. Fans are fans. I put most of the blame on the media.

What utterly sickens me about the Hamilton hysteria is that it's pretty much a forgone conclusion, if you listen to the media, that Hamilton will win multiple championships. NO ONE KNOWS THAT!!:mad:

He's been phenomenal so far. But who's to say there won't be some other wunderkind to come along within the next couple of years and blow the rest of the field away? And will the McLaren's performance & relaibilty take a step back? To already put him amongst the greatest drivers of all time is sheer lunacy.

But then what else can we expect from the media? I'm sure the English press scrutinizes everything Hamilton does, from what he eats for breakfast to the size of his bowel movements. And I'm not singling out the English media because it's just as bad, maybe worse, over here when it comes to celebrities: More people know who Paris Hilton is than the current Speaker of the House.

Hammy's handled the pressure brilliantly so far and seems to thrive on it-which is what great drivers do. He's beating his World Championship teammate to a pulp. But to rank him with greatest at this point is just crazy.

[Wee Scot]

FFS - I try to put honest input into threads - OK, I know I'm fairly new on here - but it seems I'm either the "thread-killer" or the "ignore the poster" guy.

OK, I know that you guys don't know me - but I'm a self-confessed forum-whore! It just seems that anything I post is disregarded.:confused:

Spookey, sorry, I wasn't ignoring you, just busy doing other things! These OTHER guys, THEY were ignoring you! ;) :D

You're probably right that 20, 10,... is too extreme and I like the idea of giving extra points for pole position and fastest lap. I like the use of those "bonus" points in other series and it could have a significant effect on F1, especially if you divided a 30 lap race into three 10 lap parts and gave a point for the fastest lap in each! THAT might spur them to "keep pushing." :)

BTW, you might get more attention if you add an avatar. Most NoGrippers love their pretty pictures! :cool:

Cheers!

[File 1993]

Interesting 20 minutes for reading.

You CAN'T put somebody into the GREATEST like Petty said in just few months. He has to prove that he's a good driver. We don't know how will he drive in the future, will he win or just fade off...? Although it seems that he's proven enough for some people that he's great and probably the greatest "rookie" ever. Of course, he's one of the greatest in 2007 F1 season so far, but I will not put him in the Greatest EVER. I don't know why, but I have the impression that somebody who keeps winning and doing great results is "just" great. Then, few months or years after his carrier ends, people start to talk, he did this, that, and he becomes the "greatest".


BTW, I have nothing against Lewis. :D

[Wee Scot]

Anybody else thought first about Windows instead of F1 after reading that? :D

:roflmao::roflmao: That's great! I hadn't thought about it, but GREAT "out-of-the-box" thinking, Dzul. BTW, how's the baby? You gettin' any sleep?

[washington96]

This is what I don't like, you slag off "Fizzyfella". Yes he may not be as good as other drivers, yet he still puts his life on the line and if you think it's a case of just picking up a pay slip, then that is exactly the disservice to other drivers that is clearly coming out from Hamilton fans. So in a way you proved one of my points.

Seems to me you make a pretty big assumption there on the part of 'Hamilton fans' So you can't like Hamilton and have a valid opinion at the same time? I'm not a 'Hamilton fan' I am a Formula One fan. That's why I like the fact that he has come in and performed the way he has. It's a wake up call for Formula One Drivers who are obviously feeling uncomfortable with the current situation.

Every driver has a fanbase. Every drivers fanbase will stick with their drivers no matter what and defend them. That's human nature and you will just have to deal with it. At the same time it's also human nature unfortunately for people to slag off anybody who is successful. Which is a shame and is what seems to be happening here.

You think my comment proved a point? I didn't 'slag off' anybody, just made a valid point. There is too much deadwood in Formula One these days. If drivers felt a little less comfortable in their seats, maybe they would perform a bit better on the track instead of doing the same thing year in year out. It's not enough to 'put your life on the line' you also have to perform at the best of your ability. If you can't then you should get out and let somebody else have a go. There are only 22 seats available! This is supposed to be the pinacle of motorcar racing and can you honestly say that you think we have the best 22 drivers in the world taking part?

Yes I agree with you that we can't start saying that Hamilton is the greatest driver ever and such comments don't deserve attention. But he does deserve the credit he has received so far due to his performance.

I think I have said all I need to say on this point now. I don't want this to turn into an ongoing thread of you said this and you said that. So I just hope you enjoy the rest of the season and lets just hope it's a good one.

[Wee Scot]

Guys,

I don't believe I claimed for Hamilton the title "Greatest Ever" or even "certain multiple championship winner." All I've asserted is that he is a phenomenon the likes of which I've never seen before in 40 years of following F1: a rookie who has thus far bested his 2-year reigning champion teammate! Add to that that he is personable and the first F1 person of color and it's just a GREAT STORY!

I haven't read the media pieces that have already declared him the "Greatest Ever" and predicted multiple championships. Do they really exist, or was that just a bit of hyperbole, Petty Andretti?

Yet, I keep coming back to the fact that--at least to my knowledge--no one has ever come close to doing what Lewis has done so far in his rookie season. I can't EVER remember a rookie duking it out with three seasoned veterans in equal or better equipment and coming out on top! It just doesn't happen! Rookies have ALWAYS made rookie mistakes, usually LOTS of them. Lewis will make some, too; everyone's human.

I just don't get why ANYONE would be AGAINST Hamilton. Sure, you should pull for your favorite, be that Kimi, or Fernando, or Felipe, (...or Jenson :roflmao:) but why WOULDN'T you want to see such a nice kid make history??? Maybe it's simply the differences in our ages and perspectives. I'm at the point where it means more to me when one of my kids achieves something great than when I achieve it myself. Maybe some of you are just resentful that someone not any older than yourselves is enjoying so much success and adulation!? There's a definite irony, though, that the "old guys" here seem to be more excited about Hamilton and less concerned about protecting the Greatness of those drivers in the Hall of Fame than several of the youngest among us. :)

[Petty Andretti]

I haven't read the media pieces that have already declared him the "Greatest Ever" and predicted multiple championships. Do they really exist, or was that just a bit of hyperbole, Petty Andretti?





Based on comments I've heard from Speed announcers multiple times. I should have just said "media" instead of "press". Varsha has eluded to it. Unless there was something wrong with my hearing, he mentioned "multiple championships" just before a commercial break during the British GP. That pea brained motor mouth Derek Daley hinted he could be better than Schumi and perhaps "the greatest" before the USGP took place. And I can almost hear Peter Windsor getting an erection at the mere mention of Hamilton.

Perhaps someone in the UK can shed some light on how ITV handles their F1 coverage of Hamilton and whether or not it can be considered objective as compared to the rest of the drivers in the field.

[rasfigjohn]

I switch off the sound when I watch races on tv and I make the engine sounds with my mouth.. just like when I was a kid... That's exhausting and a bit pathetic I admit but I hate sports journalists...

[Dzul]

BTW, how's the baby? You gettin' any sleep?

Thanks for the thought! :) She's sleeping 6 hours straight at night since a week ago, after we switched to a BIGGER midnight bottle. ;) Today was her first time at the daycare and she enjoyed it a lot! She came back very happy and cooing all the way back home, and she's still all babbly so I think she'll be more tired than usual after her bath and we may be sleeping a bit longer tonight... wohoo! :D

Sorry about the topic hijack chaps... carry on with F1. :hehehe:

[rasfigjohn]

Thanks for the thought! :) She's sleeping 6 hours straight at night since a week ago, after we switched to a BIGGER midnight bottle. ;) Today was her first time at the daycare and she enjoyed it a lot! She came back very happy and cooing all the way back home, which means she'll be more tired after her bath and we may be sleeping a bit longer tonight... wohoo! :D

Sorry about the topic hijack chaps... :hehehe: Carry on with F1... ;)

My own son (6months) now sleeps from 6 pm to 5.30 am straight every night..... :D... Hope it lasts...

[washington96]

I can vouch for the ITV F1 coverage over here in good ol blighty. As most of the in race commentry is done by retired drivers I can say that the commentary is quite sensible. They are a bit slow to pick up on things sometimes, but the commentary is not biased or strewn with superlatives.

Of course there is a lot of pre race coverage of Hamilton, but he is a British driver and we will have to accept that.

The guy has finished on the podium for nine of of nine races and won two of them. To think that there won't be a lot of coverage and speculation in the media is extremely naive. Nobody has done this before, it's something different. There will be a lot of coverage because of that. At least he is doing something worthy of the attention unlike say Paris Hilton for instance.......

I've never heard the commentary from the US so I have no idea what you have heard or have to put up with.

@rasfigjohn that's a great idea, but don't people look at you kinda strangely when you are doing those car noises??? I admit I sometimes find myself turning into the corners when they switch to the in car view and sometimes I may hum a few gear changes, but that's where I draw the line!

And congratulations on your new addition!

[Leper Messiah]

alright, maybe I was a bit too soured by the media and other fan comments, I shouldn't have taken it out here. Also as I stated I follow F1 with an interest in Button (and yes the overblown media coverage of him irked me a tad), so I guess I'm peeved that he's been overtaken by a johnny come lately whipper snapper.

I respect Hamilton for what he has achieved so far and I'll continue to watch him with interest.

[Petty Andretti]

I can vouch for the ITV F1 coverage over here in good ol blighty. As most of the in race commentry is done by retired drivers I can say that the commentary is quite sensible. They are a bit slow to pick up on things sometimes, but the commentary is not biased or strewn with superlatives.




I read elsewhere that an ITV pit reporter was interviewing Kubica and said: "You’re making all of the rookie mistakes that our boy Hamilton isn’t making!”

This isn't true?

[Wee Scot]

Congrats to you both, Dzul and rasfigjohn, on having very well adapted offspring! ;)

And now, having opened this hijack window, I hearby close it! :D

Varsha and Daley are idiots, agreed. Can't figure out how Varsha has hung on all these years at our Speed Channel. David Hobbs is a dork, but at least he's good for a few laughs. I like Windsor, but that's probably because I fancy MYSELF as an educated Anglo-Saxon writer. :o

[washington96]

I read elsewhere that an ITV pit reporter was interviewing Kubica and said: "You’re making all of the rookie mistakes that our boy Hamilton isn’t making!”

This isn't true?

I've watched all the qualifying and races this year all the way through and I've never heard that comment to Kubica and I would be very surprised if such an idiotic comment was put to him. Especially after his return to racing so soon after that horrific looking crash he had.

So no, I don't believe that's true.

[Petty Andretti]

Varsha and Daley are idiots, agreed. Can't figure out how Varsha has hung on all these years at our Speed Channel. David Hobbs is a dork, but at least he's good for a few laughs. I like Windsor, but that's probably because I fancy MYSELF as an educated Anglo-Saxon writer. :o


Well...I didn't say Varsha was an idiot. But I can see how he can turn many people off. But hey, It's just our opinions and that's why we're here.:) Actually I've enjoyed listening to his F1 commentary all these years and have a great deal of respect for him. My guess is Varsha's probabaly forgotten more about auto racing than all of us combined will ever know.

That's why I was so taken aback by his comments on Hamilton. :confused: How can he say that about the kid so early in his career? On the other hand, since Varsha has watched many of the greatest drivers in person, his opinion should hold more weight.

But as was already alluded to, I wanna see how he does under adversity.

[lowndes888]

Oh come on! Kubica and Heidfeld are almost every race beating 1 Ferrari or McLaren how can some @ss say that about Kubica, 2 fourth places after such a crash is amazing. Holding onto 4th with a raging Massa behind is impressive.
Heidfeld and Alonso @ Bahrain remember???

Kubica would be equal to Hamilton if he was in McLaren, Sauber can't quite catch up to the pace of Ferrari and McLaren

[Petty Andretti]

I've watched all the qualifying and races this year all the way through and I've never heard that comment to Kubica and I would be very surprised if such an idiotic comment was put to him. Especially after his return to racing so soon after that horrific looking crash he had.

So no, I don't believe that's true.

I saw someone mention it in a blog a while back and I think this was well before his accident. Can't remember where I saw it at the moment, but I don't recall anyone disagreeing with blogger...

[rasfigjohn]

@rasfigjohn that's a great idea, but don't people look at you kinda strangely when you are doing those car noises???

Yes... last week end a friend of mine was really surprised by my strange habit... It was during Quali I think... so I put the french tv commentary back just to hear Jacques Laffite say that the weird behaviour of Hamilton's car during the practice could mean that he has less downforce on the rearwing which could make him faster during sunday race. :eek:
After seeing the race on sunday my friend called me to tell me that from now on he decided he would switch off the tv sound and make the engine noise with his mouth... :cool:

[alan1272]

I read elsewhere that an ITV pit reporter was interviewing Kubica and said: "You’re making all of the rookie mistakes that our boy Hamilton isn’t making!”

This isn't true?

i haven't heard this either and i very much doubt either ted kravitz or louise goodman would have said that as they both seem very professional.

james allen on the other hand should be locked in a box and left at magny cours until F1 returns there. brundle deserves a knighthood just for putting up with that pillock since murray retired.

in my opinion the F1 ITV commentary is poor, mainly due to the "Allen factor". he shouts too much, his voice is irratating and while he might be very knowledgeable about grand prix history, he doesn't half come out with some nonsense sometimes.

this season has been 'a hamilton love in' on ITV but the seasons before were very button orientated. this isn't a bad thing; it is a british channel afterall and we've got to support our boy's!


just a quick thing about all of you missing MS. buy the official season reviews from 1991-2006, enjoy his career, and be happy that you were around when he was at his best.

[lowndes888]

Yes... last week end a friend of mine was really surprised by my strange habit... It was during Quali I think... so I put the french tv commentary back just to hear Jacques Laffite say that the weird behaviour of Hamilton's car during the practice could mean that he has less downforce on the rearwing which could make him faster during sunday race. :eek:
After seeing the race on sunday my friend called me to tell me that from now on he decided he would switch off the tv sound and make the engine noise with his mouth... :cool:

:lol: I sometimes do engine noise too when I'm bored or starting some new game:p

[Spookey]

BTW, you might get more attention if you add an avatar. Most NoGrippers love their pretty pictures! :cool:

Cheers!

Cheers Scot - and sorry for what looks like a girly hissy fit!

I'll play around with some of my pics from the week-end - I got some great clips from the historic races - may even clean them up and start a "name the cars" thread sometime!

[Spookey]

How's that for ya, Scot?

The edit function on this forum is really confusing.:roflmao:

[Wee Scot]

How's that for ya, Scot?

The edit function on this forum is really confusing.:roflmao:

I like it, and I like your idea for a "name that car" thread! I'll be looking for it.

[Wee Scot]

While we're on the subject of avatars:

Petty Andretti, does your daughter know you're using her picture!? :eek: :D