Hamilton 'suggested Button as a team-mate'

Hamilton 'suggested Button as a team-mate'

"Something you won't know is that I actually called Martin and said 'What about Jenson?', which was before they had negotiations," said Hamilton.

"At the time I was calling them and asking them, 'What's going on? I keep reading all these different stories about different drivers. What's happening?'.

"Fortunately I would be told who they were talking to, but I had absolutely no input into who they would pick.

"So I would say, 'Have you spoken to this person? Have you spoken to Jenson?'.

"And why Jenson? Because he is the best driver there is, and they wanted to get the best driver possible. I just wanted to find out because people kept asking me as to who was going to be my team-mate.

"I was happy with the team-mate I had, but it seemed like they were looking for someone else."

I want the best team I can possibly have to score the points alongside me," replied Hamilton. When he's winning I've got to be finishing second, and when I'm winning he's got to be finishing second.

"I need a team. I can't win the Constructors' Championship on my own, so I need to have as strong a team-mate as possible.

"You want someone to push you. I had Fernando (Alonso) pushing me in 2007, and at certain points in the year in 2008, I had Heikki pushing me.
http://planetf1.com/...5897694,00.html

Edited by RodrigoL, 30 January 2010 - 11:49.

Edited by undersquare, 30 January 2010 - 10:01.

Let me say it up-front: This is NOT a bash thread, go somewhere else for those tiresome 07 debates..

Lewis has raised a number of key points, related to his involvement in the team.

I find it interesting he was even interested in the negotiations. The Constructors' argument makes sense, but he would have been "happy" with Heikki anyway. Doesn't this suggest McLaren 'forced' a better teammate on him..?!

Did Hamilton really have any influence? IMO McLaren didn't need any persuading to sign the current WDC, but Lewis' interest in the matter is striking.

"Fortunately I would be told who they were talking to, but I had absolutely no input into who they would pick.

Edited by jjcale, 30 January 2010 - 11:34.

Let me say it up-front: This is NOT a bash thread, go somewhere else for those tiresome 07 debates..

Lewis has raised a number of key points, related to his involvement in the team.

I find it interesting he was even interested in the negotiations. The Constructors' argument makes sense, but he would have been "happy" with Heikki anyway. Doesn't this suggest McLaren 'forced' a better teammate on him..?!

Did Hamilton really have any influence? IMO McLaren didn't need any persuading to sign the current WDC, but Lewis' interest in the matter is striking.

Everybody seems to like Heikki within the team so that's why Lewis was happy with him as a teammate. And Mclaren obviously needed a better driver because Lewis can't win the WCC for Mclaren all by himself.

But I think Heikki just had problems adjusting to KERS and that with normal cars he should do ok.

Its another example of how he knows better than the management. He "designed" the car and now he "recommends" the team mate. Its not his decision to choose, he should stay away and let MW decide. He trying to make out that he's calling the shots.

Its another example of how he knows better than the management. He "designed" the car and now he "recommends" the team mate. Its not his decision to choose, he should stay away and let MW decide. He trying to make out that he's calling the shots.

So he designed the car... and picked his team mate ...

Is there anything else he would like to tell us..

Yip, he actually owns McLaren you know, something he´s set to reveal at the end of the season I believe. And that´s not all. I have it on good authority that Obama consults him on a regular basis regarding the American economy and Western defense.

So he designed the car... and picked his team mate ...

Is there anything else he would like to tell us..

"Fortunately I would be told who they were talking to, but I had absolutely no input into who they would pick.

"At the time I was calling them and asking them, 'What's going on? I keep reading all these different stories about different drivers. What's happening?'.

"Fortunately I would be told who they were talking to, but I had absolutely no input into who they would pick. So I would say, 'Have you spoken to this person? Have you spoken to Jenson?'.

"And why Jenson? Because he is the best driver there is, and they wanted to get the best driver possible.

Edited by Guizotia, 30 January 2010 - 11:36.

Why does the quote at top of this thread leave out where Lewis says he had no input on who McLaren chose?



The bold part was left out for some reason?

Its another example of how he knows better than the management. He "designed" the car and now he "recommends" the team mate. Its not his decision to choose, he should stay away and let MW decide. He trying to make out that he's calling the shots.

He does the catering for the lads on the race weekends too...

Why does the quote at top of this thread leave out where Lewis says he had no input on who McLaren chose?


The bold part was left out for some reason?

Let me say it up-front: This is NOT a bash thread, go somewhere else for those tiresome 07 debates..

Lewis has raised a number of key points, related to his involvement in the team.

I find it interesting he was even interested in the negotiations. The Constructors' argument makes sense, but he would have been "happy" with Heikki anyway. Doesn't this suggest McLaren 'forced' a better teammate on him..?!

Did Hamilton really have any influence? IMO McLaren didn't need any persuading to sign the current WDC, but Lewis' interest in the matter is striking.

He does the catering for the lads on the race weekends too...

Every time Lewis says something it just seems to make it even more abundantly clear to me that all he's interested in is what's best for him and Mclaren.

Anthony has the power of veto on who Lewis' team mate can be (alegedly)

So while Lewis might not have the call like he says it seems like his dad does

And that's a bad thing is it?

Lewis granted isn't the best self promoter in the business as he comes across as incongruent. Certainly Button has a lot to each him in this area and possibly many others too.
However saying that, the kid is 25 years of age and entering only his fourth year with a huge amount of success already behind him.
I genuinely believe he is happy for Jenson to be there because he admires what Jenson has done and they have a lot of history.

Time will tell who comes out on top and I am sure that the loser isn't going to like it one bit, they are F1 drivers, they didn't get to be where they are by being interested in whats best for anyone else but themselves!

Why would he not be interested in who his teammate would be? He may have been informed by the team as to who they were negotiating with, but that's different to him choosing a teammate. Even Mercedes never had a say in driver choice at McLaren. There are a lot of people who believe McLaren is Team Hamilton. The reality is far away from that.

Anthony Hamilton- more pwerful than Mercedes.

Some people believe in faries too.

Edited by jesee, 30 January 2010 - 12:13.

McLaren is Team Hamilton

In 2007 Ron was batting for Hamilton

In 2009 McLaren sacrificed a highly respected man with over 30 years service at McLaren to protect Lewis' arse

In 2009 Hamilton had all the good upgrades first before Heikki

It would be actually be odd if he had said he was not interested in which driver they picked. I suppose some posters would have liked he replied like this:

"I was not interested or bothered by whom they picked. Afterall i can win the constructors and WDC alone you know. I was not happy with Heiki so i ordered him fired"

You can't just make it up. Some people nitpick on whatever this guy says, giving it more credibility just to have thread. What next? How much he is paying his ex-girlfriend? Sorry i forgot, we had a thread on that also!

This is just another example of Lewis being self centric.

It was alleged on here at the time of the Rosberg to McLaren rumours that Anthony had vetoed both Kimi and Nico

It was alleged on here at the time of the Rosberg to McLaren rumours that Anthony had vetoed both Kimi and Nico

Yes Anthony also picked Kimis WRC team

Edited by Augurk, 30 January 2010 - 12:38.

It was alleged on here at the time of the Rosberg to McLaren rumours that Anthony had vetoed both Kimi and Nico

Anthony has the power of veto on who Lewis' team mate can be (alegedly)

So while Lewis might not have the call like he says it seems like his dad does

It was alleged on here at the time of the Rosberg to McLaren rumours that Anthony had vetoed both Kimi and Nico

Edited by Clatter, 30 January 2010 - 13:06.

McLaren is Team Hamilton

In 2007 Ron was batting for Hamilton

In 2009 McLaren sacrificed a highly respected man with over 30 years service at McLaren to protect Lewis' arse

In 2009 Hamilton had all the good upgrades first before Heikki

Edited by P123, 30 January 2010 - 13:06.

Hamilton is not one of the brightest minds on this planet that's for sure.

It was alleged on here at the time of the Rosberg to McLaren rumours that Anthony had vetoed both Kimi and Nico

Edited by velgajski1, 30 January 2010 - 13:39.

The more Hami talks, the more people realised what a dumbass he is .
He designes all and organise all Mclaren team.

Anyway, now we can interpret his statement in this way:

Hamilton got scared of Kimi. He used his veto to block his pass in McLaren. Then he urged for Button to have weaker opponent.


BC