Hamilton - Can he win the championship?

[MAD-MINI]

Ok as the title says I'm just wondering what peopke think of this.
According to ITV-f1 Hamilton was asked after the race and seems to think he could win
And having outpaced Alonso at Sakhir on the way to a record-breaking third podium in three races, Lewis said he now regards himself as a title contender.

"Absolutely, I don’t see why not," he said after the race.

"I have the same car (as Alonso) and I seem to be as competitive as him, so as long as I can keep up this consistency.


It would be really cool If a rookie can win in his first year and even beter it would be a Brit Now it is my understanding that no rookie has ever won his first year (Correct me if I'm wrong).

The season is very young and The top 3 drivers all have 22 points and Hamilton hasnt even won a race yet :D

Im not going to raise my hopes about this.... Last time I did.. well.. You saw what happenend to Button :p

[snowy]

Jackie Stewart thinks it is possible. If you look at the way Lewis has been a lot more comfortable in the car than Alonso at two out of three races so far, out pacing him in more practice sessions, it would seem feasable:

Australia
Friday practice 1: Lewis 4 tenths slower than Fernando
Friday practice 2: Lewis 2 tenths quicker than Fernando
Saturday practice: Lewis 4 tenths quicker than Fernando

Malaysia
Friday practice 1: Lewis 5 tenths slower than Fernando
Friday practice 2: Lewis 3 tenths quicker than Fernando
Saturday practice: Lewis quickest of all 5 tenths quicker than Fernando
Lewis fastest lap of the race

Bahrain
Friday practice 1: Lewis 5 hundreths quicker than Fernando
Friday practice 2: 2 tenths quicker than Fernando
Saturday: Fastest of all, 7 tenths quicker than Fernando

This is not the the usual behaviour of a rookie in F1, it is conceivable that his driving might deteriorate but it seems more likely that his driving will actually improve. If that is the case Fernando will have to make himself an even more complete driver than he already is and possibly even resort to Prost like machinations to stay ahead of Lewis. Then there is the Ferrari boys, Kimi has shown himself to be quick and flawed in equal amounts at McLaren. Could he sustain a championship challenge in his first season with Ferrari? Perhaps not. And what of Felipe? He is now an unknown quantity! He was a mentalist in a Sauber and has been transformed into a sober driver by Ferrari. He might possibly turn out to be Lewis' biggest rival.

Has Lewis got a chance at the title? I think stranger things have happened and it is definately worth a punt before he becomes odds on favorite!

[Deni]

IMO Hamilton has all the features to become the next Schumacher.

[Roger]

It is entirely possible. On the evidence to date it does not look like he will mess up an opportunity -so, if the McLaren remains a challenger - so too does Lewis.

Very, very impressed with him to date - as Snowy says, it is likely he will actually get better rather than have a wobble.

FA was slightly hampered in Bahrain with car issues - if Lewis is close or shades him over the next couple of races, I'd say he really has a genuine tilt at being first McLaren home at the end of the year.

It would be an amazing story if he took the drivers crown in his rookie year..........

[Spad]

Guys don't put him on a pedestal.

He's only done 3 races and fair enough he is showing brilliance but as soon as he screws up he will be vilified in the press over here (remember our press are arseholes and their papers are nothing more useful than bog roll). He's a rookie and he is bound to spank it at some point or another.

Give him time to get experience of an f1 car and then he'll probably show his true brilliance. Remember he's on a steep learning curve.

This is shaping up to be like when Prost and Senna were in Mclaren. I haven't seen Ron Dennis buzzing like this since Hakkinen was in the team.

[snowy]

A lot of people rate Ron's people management skill, however there were lots of issues concerning Senna and Prost he didn't sort out. Mika was an exceptional talent and it could be argued that Ron allowed MS to dismantle him, he certainly left F1 a very unhappy camper :cry:. I''m not saying it was Ron's fault that these things happened just that his hands on touchy feely approach doesn't always work out for the best. Why did Ayrton leave McLaren when he did? :confused:

So I'm not so sure Ron can cope with the kind of battle of wills that could emerge if Lewis keeps on pressuring Fernando.I like to watch racers duking it out on the track and internal team squabbles :chair: while making great press can be detrimental to the racing. This is shaping up to be a real battle of wills though, we have four really quick guys in two teams :woohoo: Whatever next?! F1 is currently more competitive than MotoGP! Go figure :confused:

[lowndes888]

Only if he's consistent, which I believe he won't be. After all, he's a rookie in F1.
But who knows?

PS He's proven to be better than Alonso IMO

[heez]

he can but i dont want him to

reasons : The british media!

[jayblue]

I hope he can continue his excellent form but haven't decided if the thick and fast nature of the european season will take its toll on him mentally yet. Whatever happens he has broken an F1 record already!

[Spad]

A lot of people rate Ron's people management skill, however there were lots of issues concerning Senna and Prost he didn't sort out. Mika was an exceptional talent and it could be argued that Ron allowed MS to dismantle him, he certainly left F1 a very unhappy camper :cry:

I was gutted to see the original Iceman leave. I've always followed Mclaren and Hakkinen was my man. He won that first race and became unstoppable. Even Schumacher said that he was the best driver in F1 since Senna sadly left us. Mika got that thirst to win and it could very well happen to Lewis. Once he tastes victory he may well become addicted :)

As for Hakkinen leaving F1. Me I think it was a reality check. After the birth of his first son and the bad accident that happened seemed to remind him of his mortality. Some people are like that.

I wish he had never left. I miss Hakkinen........Ooooohhhhh no I'm gettin all melancholy :p :roflmao: :p

[SparkyMonololak]

He has been a contender since the start of the season... I KNOW he will win a race this year!!!

[Wee Scot]

He has been a contender since the start of the season... I KNOW he will win a race this year!!!

Lewis will win MORE than one race this season.

[Pero_Grozni]

I belive he was brought up in such a way that he wont care about the media and just concentrate on the racing. I see him as a true racing enthusiast and not some spoiled brat that just got lucky. And such a true enthusiast can only be put down by one thing - his own selfcritisism and no bloddy media crap. He is a bit like the Rossi of F1 - I reckon that he will miss out on the championship, but will probably have many wins before the end of the season. Also keep in mind that he was great anywhere he drove - last year in GP2 he was amazing - I was watching the Silverstone race and was truly amazed at his skill in passing and judging things. Things that most of the F1 drivers lack.
First two races on the start it was plain to see that he was a class up on the guys around him - passing two cars in one corner with a worse start - that is not luck. And the way he outplayed Massa - pure gold.
You see that I am a fan - I hated F1 for a while now, but now I at least have a favourite in it.

[heez]

dude he wasnt spoiled! they struggled to get sponsorships but his dad kept with it because he knew he had the talent and the balls

[Pero_Grozni]

That is what I am saying - he wasnt spoiled by no means - he had to work extra hard to get to where he is now and that keeps one firmly grounded.
Because of that I have no fears of him getting spoiled with fame or him having much trouble when the media start to critisise - I belive that he is all about proper racing - I bet he knows most the F1 and other racing trivia (who was champion in each year....) unlike most of other drivers do.

[heez]

woops misread :)

[kimi311]

Jackie Stewart thinks it is possible. If you look at the way Lewis has been a lot more comfortable in the car than Alonso at two out of three races so far, out pacing him in more practice sessions, it would seem feasable:

Australia
Friday practice 1: Lewis 4 tenths slower than Fernando
Friday practice 2: Lewis 2 tenths quicker than Fernando
Saturday practice: Lewis 4 tenths quicker than Fernando

Malaysia
Friday practice 1: Lewis 5 tenths slower than Fernando
Friday practice 2: Lewis 3 tenths quicker than Fernando
Saturday practice: Lewis quickest of all 5 tenths quicker than Fernando
Lewis fastest lap of the race

Bahrain
Friday practice 1: Lewis 5 hundreths quicker than Fernando
Friday practice 2: 2 tenths quicker than Fernando
Saturday: Fastest of all, 7 tenths quicker than Fernando

This is not the the usual behaviour of a rookie in F1, it is conceivable that his driving might deteriorate but it seems more likely that his driving will actually improve. If that is the case Fernando will have to make himself an even more complete driver than he already is and possibly even resort to Prost like machinations to stay ahead of Lewis. Then there is the Ferrari boys, Kimi has shown himself to be quick and flawed in equal amounts at McLaren. Could he sustain a championship challenge in his first season with Ferrari? Perhaps not. And what of Felipe? He is now an unknown quantity! He was a mentalist in a Sauber and has been transformed into a sober driver by Ferrari. He might possibly turn out to be Lewis' biggest rival.

Has Lewis got a chance at the title? I think stranger things have happened and it is definately worth a punt before he becomes odds on favorite!

What´s about the qualifyngs?and the races? 2/3 for Alonso

you only tells what you want, but it isn´t truth.
In malasya Hamilton did the fastest lap but if you were more interested on the truth you would see that the twentieth fastest laps at malasya, 13 of them were made by alonso, two by hamilton(one was the fastest) and the rest of the others. That shows the really pace of the world champion

[Spad]

What´s about the qualifyngs?and the races? 2/3 for Alonso

you only tells what you want, but it isn´t truth.
In malasya Hamilton did the fastest lap but if you were more interested on the truth you would see that the twentieth fastest laps at malasya, 13 of them were made by alonso, two by hamilton(one was the fastest) and the rest of the others. That shows the really pace of the world champion

Practice and Quali's are all well and good.....

BUT

Its races that win points and championships. Look at Montoya he could get the car on a good pole position and thats all......

[jayblue]

I think Alonso is more consistant but considering the gulf in experience between them and raw pace of Hamilton i think he has got his most competitive team mate ever, take Fisichella for example, when did he ever really stretch Alonso? He was often so far off the pace it was like he was driving a different car...

[kimi311]

Yes, i thinks the same, Hmilton is the best team mate ever of alonso.

[snowy]

What´s about the qualifyngs?and the races? 2/3 for Alonso

you only tells what you want, but it isn´t truth.
In malasya Hamilton did the fastest lap but if you were more interested on the truth you would see that the twentieth fastest laps at malasya, 13 of them were made by alonso, two by hamilton(one was the fastest) and the rest of the others. That shows the really pace of the world champion


Sorry Kimi wasn't trying to upset you or anyone just wanted to give an indication of how Lewis had settled with the car. Fernando has done some staggeringly consistent times particularly in Malaysia but Lewis has definately felt more at home with the car in certain places. Fernando even used an extra set of soft tyres in Qualifying at Malaysia to get ahead of Lewis, or so it seemed to an outsider like me.

[snowy]

Kimi :) slightly off topic :rolleyes:

I have a question :rolleyes:

Where can I get the lap times of all the drivers in the race or at least the important lap times?

I am very interested in consistency tyre management and stuff like that. I watch the sector times on the Official FIA web site more than I do the action on the track :roflmao:

[psyfungi]

Win or lose, a truly soul inspiring addition to F1! :up:

As an Australian I've been following Mark Webber for a few years up an down. But Lewis in the McLaren, with the WC as team-mate, is a great combination.

Whatever happens, he's added a touch of "what dreams may come" to F1 - AND some extraordinary overtaking moves and prolonged racing under pressure!

[LordRa9826]

psyfungi i agree with you.Whatever it may happen it will be a great season.Now all of you guys can have a favourite that can actually have a chance for the championship.I'm saying this as a Schumacher fan,i loved his racing years but other than Hakinnen and Alonso he didn't have rivals.Now they are four of them in the fight and let's not forget the internal fights between team mates.It's nice to see two team mates (and rivals) in each team and not two masters and two slaves(or whatever names you wish to call them).
May the best man win!

[kimi311]

Kimi :) slightly off topic :rolleyes:

I have a question :rolleyes:

Where can I get the lap times of all the drivers in the race or at least the important lap times?

I am very interested in consistency tyre management and stuff like that. I watch the sector times on the Official FIA web site more than I do the action on the track :roflmao:

Hi i always watch the official live timing on formula.com during the race and the TV too. i saw That info on a newspaper the next day but i think that you can find that info somewhere on the internet(official team websites, circuit websites...) The circuit of catalunya has a webcam in his website :)

[Eddie0737]

One word pressure!!! He might never be champion. In his first couple of races Dennis told him to go out there and see what you can do, just remmember to bring the car home. He is a gifted driver and showed the rest of them how it is done. they where too set in their ways behind Schummy, including Alonso.

[SparkyMonololak]

OK, I say he has a VERY good chance at it, but keep in mind he's got Alonso and Raikkonen (Spelling?) in the way! Whoever wins, it's gonna be an exiting season, has so far!!

[Slick1]

The season is boring, the competition is one-sided still, so it is rather boring there should be not pit stops like super bike, there is no fantastic passes, I wasn't born to see the competition of the past. I just want to see how some of the tracks look in real life to make comparisons with the game and to see fuji. My favorite car is Mclaren so I wish them to win, but it will be another boring year. The action is going on in the back of the pack.

[MAD-MINI]

The season is boring, the competition is one-sided still, so it is rather boring there should be not pit stops like super bike, there is no fantastic passes, I wasn't born to see the competition of the past. I just want to see how some of the tracks look in real life to make comparisons with the game and to see fuji. My favorite car is Mclaren so I wish them to win, but it will be another boring year. The action is going on in the back of the pack.

Have we been watching the same race series here? Theres been loads of action.....
Massa losing it behind Hamilton is just one example of how good this year has been and with the promise that things are going to get more exiting.

[Slick1]

You know what I mean. The racing isn't equal. There is no real competition, it is just two companies dominating the sport, where is the racing there?

[snowy]

It's very easy to paint the past with a rosy glow and believe that there was once a time when all the cars on the grid were capable of winning races and all the drivers were truelly remarkable racing atheletes. However it has been my experience (about 30 years of watching F1) that there is always someone who is dominant and everybody else chases them. Sometimes we are fortunate and the opposition takaes a step forward or the FIA changes the rules and we get a close finish to the championship. I often contrast F1 with MotoGP because there is a lot of overtaking in MotoGP but here too there is always a dominant machine and rider that everybody else is chasing. And if you just read the statistics MotoGP would also appear rather boring Doohan, Doohan, Doohan, Doohan, Doohan, Criville, Roberts, Rossi, Rossi, Rossi, Rossi, Rossi, Haydon. Notice the similarity between that and Schumacher, Schumacher, Hill, Villeneurve, Hakkinen, Hakkinen, Schumacher, Schumacher, Schumacher, Schumacher, Schumacher, Alonso, Alonso. It's not so different is it? There was more overtaking in F1 but it really was quite a long time ago you perhaps have to go back to the early 1970's. As aero became more and more critical so overtaking dwindled. The passes that were made by Piquet, Senna, Mansel are remembered for good reason. they were rare! Even back then. Refueling is definately a bad thing for F1 though, without it cars would be designed with a compromise to allow for the possibility of overtaking. At the moment it is a given that if you are going to overtake it will be during the pitstops. This is obviously wrong and belongs with every other Max Mosely inspired idea that ever existed, in the toilet! :wc:

[rasfigjohn]

Another F1 bashing thread... we should open a section for that... :D
snowy I noticed you often say Nicky HaydOn... is that a joke or something?
And... 30 years watching F1 and still looking like a 22 years old kid... congratulations... :rolleyes:

[rasfigjohn]

Another article about Hamilton and media... http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/58459
the title of the article is "Hill warns Hamilton about media attention". Well... I guess a former F1 world champion can find Lewis phone number, call him and tell him "Kid I warn you about media attention". Why does he have to use the media to say beware of the media? except maybe for his own public benefit...

[Wee Scot]

Another article about Hamilton and media... http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/58459
the title of the article is "Hill warns Hamilton about media attention". Well... I guess a former F1 world champion can find Lewis phone number, call him and tell him "Kid I warn you about media attention". Why does he have to use the media to say beware of the media? except maybe for his own public benefit...

Yes, exactly... I liked Damon and cheered for him when he was fighting Schumi for the titles in '94 & '95 (and '96 :)), but you could see he had a self-confidence problem because he was always being measured against the success and popularity his father enjoyed. Lewis has none of that baggage, none of the burden of measuring up to his father. Plus Lewis is very telegenic, handsome with a sparkling smile. Damon was... well... Of course there is the race (as opposed to racing) angle, but it's not as though he were Jesse Owens or Jackie Robinson (sorry about the U.S.-centric viewpoint). While he can be said to be breaking through the racial "barrier" in F1, it seems to me self-evident that the world-wide social climate in 2007 is very much improved and I'd be surprised if he is getting any racist hate mail. All things considered, I don't see any reason he shouldn't meet with fantastic success!

[rasfigjohn]

Oddly enough I never really thought about the racism angle for Hamilton... He may receive some racist hate mails but it will certainly be a small minority.. Many things have changed since Jesse Owens... I don't think he's seen as a black man in UK... he's just a talented telegenic kid.

[Wee Scot]

Oddly enough I never really thought about the racism angle for Hamilton... He may receive some racist hate mails but it will certainly be a small minority.. Many things have changed since Jesse Owens... I don't think he's seen as a black man in UK... he's just a talented telegenic kid.

I hope--and expect--you're right about the way he's perceived in the UK and throughout Europe and most of the rest of the world, and that's great. In the U.S., sad to say, there would still be plenty of people trying to make political points on the race angle. It certainly was a big 'story' in Tiger Woods' rise to stardom, and motor racing in general--and F1 in particular--has been a very "white" sport, just like professional golf.

[snowy]

Another F1 bashing thread... we should open a section for that... :D
snowy I noticed you often say Nicky HaydOn... is that a joke or something?
And... 30 years watching F1 and still looking like a 22 years old kid... congratulations... :rolleyes:


I've never seen his name written down before :rolleyes: That's what it sounds like when they say his name so that is what I rote innit :eek:

Apologies for the tardy reply

[snowy]

Congrats to Felipe another really sturdy race :)

Well he may not have won a race yet but Lewis is the outright Championship Leader after four races! :) That's a remarkable achievement for a rookie with a two time world champion teammate to contend with!

[rasfigjohn]

I don't like races like that... Felipe on pole... Felipe winning... Boring for every one except for Felipe's fans..
I'd like to see the replay of Fernando's move on him in the first lap... I think Fernando would like to see it too... lol.
Congratulations to Takuma for winning a point... Incredible to see a Super Aguri and a Renault fighting for the last point :D.
And of course congratulations to Lewis for beating Fernando ... again and leading the championship... now it's time to win a race.

[lowndes888]

Tough race for everyone but I went mad when I saw Heidfeld's pitstop and those idiots that didn't screw the front wheel correctly. The dude was doing great, such ashame. But Kubica finished 4th so points for BMW Sauber again.

Congrats to Hamilton for AGAIN beating Alonso, it seems the second drivers are doing better than the first ones;)

[snowy]

The Ferrari is very consistent with its use of tyres Lewis and Fernando's times were nowhere near as quick and more critically niether could run more than one or two quick laps on the trot. It is something we saw with the Ferrari's and the Renault's last season. McLaren just haven't nailed those tyre use issues. :(

[snowy]

I went mad when I saw Heidfeld's pitstop and those idiots that didn't screw the front wheel correctly. The dude was doing great, such ashame. But Kubica finished 4th so points for BMW Sauber again.


Fernando was very fortunate :rolleyes: Nick would have nailed him again for sure. :roflmao:

[Freddyfartbox]

I can't believe they chicaned the last turn at Catalunya!

[Roger]

It is entirely possible. On the evidence to date it does not look like he will mess up an opportunity -so, if the McLaren remains a challenger - so too does Lewis.

Very, very impressed with him to date - as Snowy says, it is likely he will actually get better rather than have a wobble.

FA was slightly hampered in Bahrain with car issues - if Lewis is close or shades him over the next couple of races, I'd say he really has a genuine tilt at being first McLaren home at the end of the year.

It would be an amazing story if he took the drivers crown in his rookie year..........


Can I refer you all to my previous post :D :p

[willowjoe]

Guys don't put him on a pedestal.

He's only done 3 races and fair enough he is showing brilliance but as soon as he screws up he will be vilified in the press over here (remember our press are arseholes and their papers are nothing more useful than bog roll). He's a rookie and he is bound to spank it at some point or another.

Give him time to get experience of an f1 car and then he'll probably show his true brilliance. Remember he's on a steep learning curve.

This is shaping up to be like when Prost and Senna were in Mclaren. I haven't seen Ron Dennis buzzing like this since Hakkinen was in the team.

I see what you mean. He's human so he's bound to make mistakes!!!