Hamilton - 'Former drivers don't know what they're talking about'

As much as i think that most of what Lewis says is drivvle, he's right.

Jackie Stewart, in particular, is a clown. It's sad, because someone like my father still hangs on his every word and regurgitates his out of touch comments verbatim. The cars are nothing like what Jackie drove, the circus itself has changed out of all recognition since he was king of the castle. He needs to let it go a bit. He has his place, but his incessant 'being available for comment' is rather tragic.

You can add Moss, Lauda, Jones & Scheckter to that list.

The proof of the pudding's in the eating, and Lewis was two seconds faster than the closest McLaren in qualifying. Jackie Stewart has an opinion on everything, and often people defer to him just because he's a former champion – it's about time someone called his bluff, and this time Lewis has the stopwatch on his side.

5th place isn't all that impressive, I think the bragging is a little premature. This just reinforces how people get into Lewis's head.

5th place isn't all that impressive, I think the bragging is a little premature. This just reinforces how people get into Lewis's head.

5th place isn't all that impressive, I think the bragging is a little premature. This just reinforces how people get into Lewis's head.

Stalking Lewis on Twitter/fb? What?

First quote - absolutely accurate. He is the quickest, but he is not the most consistent. What exactly is wrong with that?

Second quote - again, try reading it a bit more carefully. He's saying that provided he isn't being swayed by emotional factors, then it's all fine. But he should be careful about that. Totally correct.

I don't think it's about the results, didn't he expect it to be a year in the midfield anyway? He's right to say they don't know what they're talking about though, because no one knows why he fell out of McLaren...

Edited by Massa_f1, 19 March 2013 - 16:38.

If you are only as good as your last race, then perhaps you are only as good as your last season too.

Perhaps you were watching something else in 2012, but he looked pretty consistent to me:

- more poles than anyone else
- only man to make Q3 every weekend
- but for two car failures, would have won as many races as anyone else

Your lack of objectivity gives you away every time, I'm afraid.

We may not know but people who travel the world in the F1 circus know. Some of these people have been friends for decades. Just because some people can keep info to themselves doesn't mean they don't know. Plenty of people know what happened.

In fact it appears Sir Jackie thinks any move in any direction is as a bad idea...

While some are defending jackie, I dont think Lewis has spoken a word about him. People should read the complete article first.

Perhaps you might like to read before you reply.

I did not say he was inconsistent. I said I agree that he is not the most consistent.

Do not put words in my mouth - it is not I that make assumptions, it is you it seems.

Plus - talking of objectivity - it is your gross lack of objectivity that causes you to read anything that is not 1000% behind LH as being somehow anti LH, I suggest. I already said that I applaud his risk taking in moving, and that I agree he is the fastest (but not the most consistent, which I would say, objectively, is Alonso). Whether it turns out to be a wise move to go the Mercedes is anyone's guess - doesn't look bad right now, after one nineteenth of the season, sure.

Edited by F1Johnny, 19 March 2013 - 17:42.

Perhaps you should check out the words of the guy you are steadfastly defending. He never mentioned 'most' - you invented that. Probably as a convenient jumping off point...

5th place isn't all that impressive, I think the bragging is a little premature. This just reinforces how people get into Lewis's head.

Lewis is digging himself a hole again.

Has anyone read exactly what Lewis said. The headline is sensationalized up the wazoo.

"It's been everyone, particularly all the ex-drivers commenting that it was the worst decision ever. They said: 'He's going to finish nowhere, they're going to be nowhere.' And then they contradicted themselves, going the other way.

"They don't know what they're talking about. They're either this way or that, when the truth is the bit in the middle."

He has also been balanced in his criticism of his detractors IMO, by saying the truth lies in the middle.

I agree, specially when it comes to Lauda.

Lewis is right imo, IIRC Jackie Stewart said something about Vettel not being a great becuase he has had the fastest car, even though when Jackie won his WDCs, he had the the fastest cars. Bit of a double standard no?

And never trust a fart when you get that old!

Made my day!

What does Hamilton have to be proud of going to Merc though? it's likely if he'd stayed at McLaren they'd have evolved the MP4-27 so they'd still be front running. Merc qualified 3rd last year in Melbourne just like Hamilton did (and without a team struggling as much as McLaren is - if they weren't Hamilton might've been P5). If Schumacher had finished last year it's likely he would've matched Lewis's position too... WHAT IS LEWIS BOASTING ABOUT? :S

They gave their opinions(whoever he was talking about)? So lewis gave his opinion, which he had every right to. Lewis desperately wanted to leave mclaren. Apparently he told bernie he would rather take a year off than stay at mclaren. Fact is, Lewis was criticised for staying at mclaren, ppl said he has it to easy. He then decides to leave .mclaren and gets stick for it.

5th place isn't all that impressive, I think the bragging is a little premature. This just reinforces how people get into Lewis's head.

I agree with Lewis 100%. Former drivers, especially ones from eras in which F1 was very different, like to run their mouths a bit too much in my opinion.

Interesting that lewis would speak out over opinionated former drivers when his boss is...... Lauda!

Maybe he should tell his view of older driver to Lauda.

Lewis has spectacular reflexes. His mouth moves way before his brain does.

Utter nonsense. They would've decided the concept of the car at around this time last year, well before they knew whether or not Hamilton was staying. You're grasping at straws if you're trying to argue it wasn't a good move for hamilton. It's the best thing for him, in terms of his mindset, as well as being in a car that is competitive not just now but in the future.

Conversely, there are a lot of questions that hangover Mclaren at the moment. 2009 wasn't a good year, 2011 they royally screwed up in winter testing with the fan tail exhaust but were fortunate that when they copied the red bull solution it gave them instant lap time. They've lost a lead driver, lost their main sponsor, there's question marks over engines, they've lost their technical director, the car they've produced is an absolute mutt and under the stewardship of Whitmarsh the good ship mclaren are looking rudderless. In the first race of the season, they've made a litany of errors that blighted them last year - putting button and perez on to ss tyres too soon in q 2, then putting button on ss too soon in q3 so tyres were destroyed for race, slow pitstops (6th fastest team overall), inexplicably putting Perez on to super softs in second stints and losing a shed load of time. They're calamitous as a team at the moment and I can't see Whitmarsh there beyond this season.

Err not true at all, they probably decided the car concept AFTER Lewis left, as in case you didn't notice Button said the 2013 car was designed around him. Doubt that'd be true if they thought they were keeping Lewis.

QUOTE (mattferg @ Mar 19 2013, 23:42) *
Err not true at all, they probably decided the car concept AFTER Lewis left, as in case you didn't notice Button said the 2013 car was designed around him. Doubt that'd be true if they thought they were keeping Lewis.

Edited by McLaren, 19 March 2013 - 22:55.

Lewis has spectacular reflexes. His mouth moves way before his brain does.

“A great guy. That once again confirms my own belief that there is a lot more to being a world champion than merely having a strong right foot (on the pedal),”
“He has social intelligence, he is good with people, he knows how to motivate them, he is a meticulous worker. It's a lot of fun to work with professional people. If they are also nice, that's even better. All of us in the team are delighted that Lewis has joined us.”