Similarities between Hamilton and Villeneuve

The original point was that Lewis may not be able to get a drive in a top team in three (or whatever) years time if he and Mercedes have not succeeded together. The truth is that the top teams will not go out of their way to secure his signature even now. Only Mercedes were prepared to ease out their big name driver for him, and that driver (MS) is teetering on the brink of retirement. It is not reasonable to assume that this situation will be any different in three years time, unless Lewis has the opportunity to impress in the meantime.

I'm sorry to say Lewis is looking more and more like a one time champion to me. I just don't see him winning another unless Alonso and Vettel retire as they are far more consistent and just as fast. Unless Merc turn a corner and quickly then I just can't see him being anything more than an odd podium finisher every now and again. I also think Nico will give him a much tougher time than Jenson.

The original point was that Lewis may not be able to get a drive in a top team in three (or whatever) years time if he and Mercedes have not succeeded together. The truth is that the top teams will not go out of their way to secure his signature even now. Only Mercedes were prepared to ease out their big name driver for him, and that driver (MS) is teetering on the brink of retirement. It is not reasonable to assume that this situation will be any different in three years time, unless Lewis has the opportunity to impress in the meantime.

Complete and utter madness.

Ferrari will want him, actually didnt they offer him a race seat for 08? Yes, yes they did.

Mercedes want him, obviously.

Mclaren are gutted hes left.

Frank Williams admires the man

Red Bull exist only to serve Vettel, why would they want him beaten?

Hamilton has been in F1 for several years, if he beats Rosberg aswell, and im inclined to believe he will, his stick will only raise with yet another driver he can beat, So far its two world champions.......Hamilton is near enough the most sought after property in F1, and not only due to driving.

I'm sorry to say Lewis is looking more and more like a one time champion to me. I just don't see him winning another unless Alonso and Vettel retire as they are far more consistent and just as fast. Unless Merc turn a corner and quickly then I just can't see him being anything more than an odd podium finisher every now and again. I also think Nico will give him a much tougher time than Jenson.

Thats the same for any driver if they don't perform, on one hand your don't want to make out Lewis is special on the other you seem to think that some rules only stand for him.

Did Renaults lack of results and cheating damage Alonso?

Why would Ferrari and Redbull get rid of their top drivers that are settled in and replace with another top driver?

People lose all sense of logic in their eagerness to Bash.

What kind of stupid comment is that?

Are you for real?

What exactly is being tarnished because Schuey as a 43 years old cannot do what 43 years old people aren't capable of doing anyway?

garoidb you can go search it yourself, you obviously have more then enough spare time to bash Hamilton so it wouldnt trouble you much to prove me wrong, only you cant, reference 95 wikipedia Lewis Hamilton, Montezemelo offered Hamilton a drive for 08 as reported by Steve Cooper in Autosport.


Other than that, your ridiculous.

Well why haven't Red Bull signed him up then? He practically threw himself at Horner last year.

I don't have that issue of Autosport close to hand, but even the wikipedia article doesn't say he was offered a drive. You will have to do better than that.

It does say that in Wikipedia it says

In the aftermath it was reported that Hamilton had been targeted by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo regarding a Ferrari drive for 2008.[95]

It is in the bit that discusses Hungary 2007.

http://en.wikipedia....on#cite_note-94

However it is Wikipedia.

But it is going a little off topic. I can't remember Jacques being offered a Ferrari drive. So it is not relevant to this thread unless he was offered a Ferrari drive. And no Jacques driving a Ferrari this year does not count.

Please stay on topic.

Cause they already have drivers on long term contracts, there was no clear spot. Vettel, Alonso and Lewis won't be in the same team together.

We'll have to listen to Hamilton sing. Thus, comparison can't be done yet.

BAR was a completely new team built from the remains of the fallen Tyrrell team. Mercedes is a near top team with substantial backing from a car manufacturer. I'm seeing massive differencees between Villeneuve's move and Hamilton's move

Of course there are a ton of dissimilarities between the two. But some kind of dejavue it might seem for some aswell that Hamilton is doing the backwards career move by moving from the front pack to a midpack . It looks as much a questionable team change as Villeneuves did at the time.

Both drivers came into Formula 1 with a Bang. Both immediately challenged the established world class experienced teammate.

Villeneuve following his star managers adventure and sending his career from having everything going for it to an uphill struggle. Hamilton not starting with a new team, but having a new managment.

Hamilton having the confidence that whatever happens from now on, he will still be able to get back into a cockpit at the front. What if doors dont open later on as quickly or as timely.

What if Rosberg, who knows the car and team well, and they know him and his driving preferences/setup desires well, matches him, or beat him frequently. Then how does he look?

Both have won 1 Championship.

With both career moves, much more money, a bigger contract was beeing a nice bonus to take the step. (plunge?)

Both came into F1 in the best car.

Both challenged their more experienced team-mates in the first season; both winning four races.

Both lost the title at the last race of their first season.

Both lost said more experienced team-mates in their second season, becoming number one.

Both won the title at the second attempt.

Both sophomore years were less impressive/consistent than their debut years despite winning the championship.

Both had no chance to defend their title due to their teams not adapting to rules changes.

Both fell out with the team that gave them their break, leaving for a team (the same team) with great potential but no results.

The similarities are quite interesting really; but recently they've started to fade. Although BAR is the same Brackley team as Mercedes now is, those in charge of Mercedes have much more F1 pedigree than the initial BAR startup had.

But it is going a little off topic. I can't remember Jacques being offered a Ferrari drive. So it is not relevant to this thread unless he was offered a Ferrari drive. And no Jacques driving a Ferrari this year does not count.

Please stay on topic.

Are you on F1Rejects by any chance? I remember I wrote a post, just like this (without the last two lines, as that hadn't happened at the time I wrote the post)

I have this bad feeling that in 2-3 years time Lewis will regret this decision and his career will in fact follow the path set by JV. He is obviously more talented, but still, I don't think this is a good move at all by him.
Hopefully I am wrong and his obvious talent will not go to waste.

As I perceive it, that is a list of facts so it's quite possible it has been replicated. That is a great site though, this sort of trivia is what makes it tick.

Here's a difference.... Hamilton is the real deal!

Here's a difference.... Hamilton is the real deal!

What kind of stupid comment is that?

Are you for real?

What exactly is being tarnished because Schuey as a 43 years old cannot do what 43 years old people aren't capable of doing anyway?

Here's a difference.... Hamilton is the real deal!

Vettel, Alonso and Lewis in the same team wouldn't work.

You know what's funny to me? At the end of 2008, Lewis was expected to be the next big thing. He was expected to break Schumacher's records and achievements. Had you told anyone that now 2013 is nearing and Lewis is still a 1 time champion who hasn't finished in the top 3 since, they'd call you nuts.

Now, 4 years later it seems more and more likely Hamilton will remain a sole champion throughout his career.

Jacques Villeneuve 2.0 right there, although mind you I still believe he's the better driver of the two.

Edited by maverick69, 30 September 2012 - 10:28.

You know what's funny to me? At the end of 2008, Lewis was expected to be the next big thing. He was expected to break Schumacher's records and achievements. Had you told anyone that now 2013 is nearing and Lewis is still a 1 time champion who hasn't finished in the top 3 since, they'd call you nuts.

Now, 4 years later it seems more and more likely Hamilton will remain a sole champion throughout his career.

Jacques Villeneuve 2.0 right there, although mind you I still believe he's the better driver of the two.

Seems like another stick for the usual suspects to beat Hamilton with - because you could say similar things about most 1 x WDCs. And besides, Hamilton is unlikely to be in his prime yet, is likely to be in F1 for at least another decade, and the prospects for success at Mercedes are far, far greater than what JV had at BAR.

Jacques Villeneuve was 27 when he made his debut for BAR. What age is Lewis now?

Certainly the JV experience is the worst case scenario, and Mercedes should be better than BAR. However, we have all heard mid-grid teams make ambitious claims before - Toyota spring to mind, as do Honda and even BMW (maybe the most similar case). There is a real possibility that Mercedes will not improve. That is a risk that Lewis has taken.

Edited by maverick69, 30 September 2012 - 10:55.

I wasn't comparing JV in his prime to Lewis per se - I was just saying that there's plenty to come.

The problem is that now that Hamilton has made a move to have a go at answering the detractors favorite bash of "He has to prove himself in a team away from the bussom of McLaren in order to have any sort of decent legacy" you get the kind of weak, virtually irrelevant bashes like this - because, as you say the JV experience is the worst case scenario.

And in reference to the possibility that Merc may not improve. Well that is always a possibility - but I find that very unlikely given what they have been up to with their infrastructure in the past couple of years. And don't forget that the car has won a race this year! It's not exactly as quick as the top cars at this stage of the season - but it's not a shitbox..... and I also reckon that Hamilton will have extracted more out of it this year.

Hamilton probably has some sort of performance clause for 2015. If the car is complete garbage in 2013 and 2014, he'd probably be allowed to leave early. If Vettel goes to Ferrari, Hamilton can easily slot in RBR.

Well, if I was "bashing" (I love the use of that word here), then the whole thread is a bash.

Well, if I was "bashing" (I love the use of that word here), then the whole thread is a bash.

I agree, actually. If the field stays this close, then Lewis will have some good days as he should be able to make up more of the difference.

Edited by maverick69, 30 September 2012 - 11:35.

but I find that very unlikely given what they have been up to with their infrastructure in the past couple of years.

I've lost count of the JV and Hamilton comparisons on here. I just cannot see the relevance of that comparison other than to have a pop at Hamilton because their situations and their respective talents are very different.

Off the top of my head, Toyota and BMW had their best seasons - then they got worse despite having more supercomputers, more wind tunnels and more simulators.

Not a good sign !