posted Oct 7, 2007

What happened with ITV coverage today? Hamilton went off, didn't finish, yet they kept on broadcasting, and managed to speak about other drivers as if they gave a toss about them!
It was a case of being too greedy by LH and his race team today. You can't imagine them doing the same again in Brazil.
But its now within the realms of one mistake, or one technical glitch (a la Mansell in Melbourne many years ago).
The ace up the sleeve may belong too Fearrari with Massa, whose brief will be to mess up the race for the Maclarens.
Lewis will be wary of being punted off and it will be fascinating to watch.

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posted Oct 7, 2007

I'm new here, but I've been following F1 and studying its history since the late eighties, and I cannot recall such vitriol being expended on a British driver as is being poured over LH. I am not up his derriere, but he IS a very successful British talent, so I feel that I reserve the right to support him.

Now, down to business:

My view on the race is that Hamilton's main error was in not telling the team that the car was undriveable and coming-in, thus ending the team's procrastination. He did use-up his tyres more rapidly than FA, but, let's be honest here; FA wasn't exactly setting the world alight in the first stint, was he? In addition, aren't we forgetting that different drivers have different personalites and styles? LH is a RACER, and racers are not often well-served if they try to bury their racer's instinct and cruise for points - when drivers cruise, they often chuck it off the road. He wasn't going looney in the opening stages either; I remember Martin Brundle commenting that Lewis was driving within himself whilst pulling away. In addition, he was cooling his tyres at every possible opportunity. As regards the eventual visit to the gravel, don't forget he had never driven there until this weekend, and had little or no experience of that pitlane entry in the wet. Plus, the tyres were wrecked: I'd have loved to have seen whether Schuey, FH or any of those who members here worship could have kept it out of the gravel. I also do not think he was using the mucky mirrors as an excuse, because he pointed-out that he knew that the tyres were shot by how it was handling. What it did mean, though, was that it reduced the weapons at his disposal in being forceful with the team about coming in. Eddie Sachs made a pitstop at Indy in 1961 when he saw the breaker strip showing in one of his rear tyres, just as Lewis did. It cost him the Borg-Warner trophy, but possibly saved his life (though, of course, he died tragically there three years later). What I'm saying is that, in those days before pits-car/car-pits radio, the driver decided alone, whereas now, the race engineer seems very powerful (too powerful, if you ask me; the drivers seem to be employees now instead of brilliant, courageous free agents) and a young driver like LH can easily be swayed by the team saying that there was rain forecast and they were only a few laps from the second stop window.

As to the suggestion that shaking the mechanics' hands was a hollow gesture; what would the critics have said if he'd done what FA did after quali on Saturday? You Hamilton-bashers take the "heads I win, tails LH loses" philosophy - in your eyes, he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

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posted Oct 7, 2007

What has amused me out of Lewis's temporary troubles is the over egging of the event prior, to it happening, by the press and TV.
I can not abide ITV for their fawning over Lewis and turning the coverage into the Lewis Hamilton show. Fans like us, cripboffin, want balanced and comprehensive reporting.
Anyway, I tuned to BBC News until the start, and there appeared to be every British ex F1 driver there saying how lewis would win. The coverage on ITV, BBC News and Five Live that morning was laughable for its lack of planning to cover what actually occured.
I think this poor quality of coverage, and over egging of the Hamilton factor, has actually turned people off Lewis instead of onto F1. This excludes the Johnny come latelys who would watch tiddleywinks if there was a succesful Englishman competing.

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posted Oct 7, 2007

At least the current situation exclude LH intentionally to take FA out. LH still in control and he is great at qualifying so he is quite possible to be on pole again and win the WDC. How about FA takes LH out just preventing him get the title?
----------------------
Evil thoughts make evil men. Your imagination knows no bounds.

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posted Oct 7, 2007

I know this has been discussed already, but before I raise it again, let me come clean and say I am an Alonso fan.

Hamilton has driven a superb season....BUT.

If a team is disqualified for potential use of technology from another team, then how can the drivers that use that technology continue to race AND win a championship?

First and foremost, all sporting events should be about fairness.

My view is that if LH is that great (and the signs are that he is), he has many more years in him to become WDC. FA has already won it twice.

My preference, despite being an FA fan, is that Raikonnen wins.

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posted Oct 7, 2007

for commercial purposes and survival of F1 the maclaren drivers were not disqualified from the championship. that is fact. the FIA knew what impact disqualifying the drivers would have viewer figures and potential financial problems. F1 viewers are not interested in the constructers title but the drivers title. the FIA knows that. and the viewers are where the money gains are. i have to say that they got it spot on if you consider the situation at the moment going into brazil. 3 drivers fighting for the title instead of kimi being handed the title. im sure kimi would not like it any other way other than fighting it on the track.

sport is all about being ahead of your competitors and winning at any cost. that has always been teh case. if teams identify where they can gain ground without being caught they will grab the opportunity. maclaren were unforfunate in getting caught.

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posted Oct 7, 2007

you guys might find it interesting to visit the link below at read this article on ron dennis explanation on lewis retirement. the bit at the end puts things in a new light:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63139

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posted Oct 8, 2007

It's great to see the title go to the last race of the season.

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posted Oct 8, 2007

Yes...this last point regarding RD's last point might be very illuminating. It certainly drives my sympathies towards Alonso.

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posted Oct 17, 2007

Wotmenah

All apart from the last bit re alonso being second, if he is second that will be his fifth too.Does it then go to thirds and fourths, If so equal thirds but LH will have more fourths.

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