The Hamilton Report............

[jsmyle1%...]

Two words..............

RACE CRAFT!!!!!

[Kidstar]

Quote, originally posted by vdubjb »

At this rate, europeans are going to be looking for Grenadian kids to teach to drive! Brilliant drive! Esp holding off Kimi in the close. I gotta get my Hammy merchandise for the Canadian Gran Prix.

Thought the banna was Trini?

[vdubjb]

Quote, originally posted by Kidstar »

Thought the banna was Trini?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Hamilton

grands were from Grenada http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean...shtml


Modified by vdubjb at 11:29 PM 4-8-2007

[dingoaaron]

Just watched the race on delay . . . simply amazing.

GUARANTEED - If Schumi were driving Massa's car the Ferrari would have run away with the race. Alonso had only one chance and that was Lewis passing both Ferraris to allow him to grab a lead. It's hard to remember the last time a driver has risen to the occasion like Hamilton did. That win was all due to him.

[mAdD INDIAN]

Quote, originally posted by dingoaaron »

Just watched the race on delay . . . simply amazing. GUARANTEED - If Schumi were driving Massa's car the Ferrari would have run away with the race. Alonso had only one chance and that was Lewis passing both Ferraris to allow him to grab a lead. It's hard to remember the last time a driver has risen to the occasion like Hamilton did. That win was all due to him.

Kimi @ Suzuka '05

I bet we'll be seeing a lot more of that from Kimi, Hamilton, and probably Alonso this season. If Hamilton's GP2 season is anything to go by, this kid does not like not being in the front! He will kick, scream, and punch (figuratively) his way to the front!

I bet after a few more races, he'll get tired of playing the supporting role and actually go for the win. I bet he could have been closer to Alonso if he wasn't being slow on purpose in the first stint to let Alonso have a large lead.

[PhaetonChix]

I have a feeling that Kimi, Alonso and LH will be sharing the podium the majority of the season. Did anyone catch Hamilton's comment on the team radio at the end of the race? "I'm going to win one this year".

I'm officially a huge LH fan.

PC

[dubsix]

Wow, totally impressed once again. He is doing the same thing as he did in GP2 albeit with a "better" field of drivers. Same skill, same unshakable drive! Best moves was in keeping Massa behind him and forcing an error, usually is the guy behind forcing the guy infront into an error not the other way around.

GO LEWIS

[Iceman18T]

Quote, originally posted by dubsix »

Best moves was in keeping Massa behind him and forcing an error, usually is the guy behind forcing the guy infront into an error not the other way around.

x2

I thought the same thing as Massa got shook for the second time.
Great drive from LH and Kimi.


Modified by Iceman18T at 1:26 PM 4-9-2007

[venom600]

I don't recall ever seeing someone have this sort of performance two races into their F1 career, but then I don't recall many people getting a ride at a first tier team (championship contender) their first year either. There is no doubt that he has a special sort of talent AND the drive to use it (unlike someone like Massa or Ralf Schumacher), but you have to wonder if anyone would be talking about him if he had taken the normal route and started with at team like Williams or Spyker.

[Kidstar]

Quote, originally posted by venom600 »

I don't recall ever seeing someone have this sort of performance two races into their F1 career, but then I don't recall many people getting a ride at a first tier team (championship contender) their first year either. There is no doubt that he has a special sort of talent AND the drive to use it (unlike someone like Massa or Ralf Schumacher), but you have to wonder if anyone would be talking about him if he had taken the normal route and started with at team like Williams or Spyker.

Massa definitely has talent. He was a bit hasty...and with engineers in your head urging you on...it can get tricky. After is run off, he just lost it.... I'd never say he's an under achiever like Ralf... Thought Ralf seems to have enhanced to a degree....

I'm still, surprised, to say the least at how competitive the Toyos and SG have become...

[Iceman18T]

Well, LH is interesting to watch but I'm not falling over amazed by him. F1 history has shown us alot of talent that others thought was superior, but after one good year, they fall into the cracks. Button, Jacques Villenueve, Heidfield, etc etc just to name a few.

[dubsix]

Quote, originally posted by Iceman18T »

Well, LH is interesting to watch but I'm not falling over amazed by him. F1 history has shown us alot of talent that others thought was superior, but after one good year, they fall into the cracks. Button, Jacques Villenueve, Heidfield, etc etc just to name a few.

Good drivers need good cars period otherwise they are nothing. If Button was in Ferrari or Mclaren or Renault in past few years he would be one of the greats. Villeneuve only had a two years with a good car. Heidfeld only recently has a car worthy of regular points finishes. With Lewis he's good and will be in a good car for sometime barring disaster, not many young guns get a chance to drive a top team right away. Villeneuve did and capitalized, everything points to Hamilton doing the same.
On a side note, I haven't really rooted for someone for a long time, so I was happy to say I found myself cheering at the TV for the first time since JV was dominating in 96/97.

[vdubjb]

Quote, originally posted by dubsix »

Good drivers need good cars period otherwise they are nothing. If Button was in Ferrari or Mclaren or Renault in past few years he would be one of the greats. Villeneuve only had a two years with a good car. Heidfeld only recently has a car worthy of regular points finishes. With Lewis he's good and will be in a good car for sometime barring disaster, not many young guns get a chance to drive a top team right away. Villeneuve did and capitalized, everything points to Hamilton doing the same. On a side note, I haven't really rooted for someone for a long time, so I was happy to say I found myself cheering at the TV for the first time since JV was dominating in 96/97.

Exactly. If he were in a Super Aguri, he wouldn't be on the podium. The equipment is the thing.

[jsmyle1%...]

Could Hamilton have been on a heavier full load than both Alonso & Massa? Maybe that would explain why Alonso checked out a bit and Massa was looming?...........Just a thought.

Maybe we'll see even fuel loads for both Hamilton & Alonso @ Bahrain.

[Kidstar]

Quote, originally posted by jsmyle1%@vw »

Could Hamilton have been on a heavier full load than both Alonso & Massa? Maybe that would explain why Alonso checked out a bit and Massa was looming?...........Just a thought. Maybe we'll see even fuel loads for both Hamilton & Alonso @ Bahrain.

I doubt it. Alonso just stayed on his game, and outdrove the field. From the green till the end. If that were the case why didn't Kimi go round him?

[venom600]

Quote, originally posted by Kidstar »

Massa definitely has talent. He was a bit hasty...and with engineers in your head urging you on...it can get tricky. After is run off, he just lost it.... I'd never say he's an under achiever like Ralf... Thought Ralf seems to have enhanced to a degree....

Did you see him race in the rain? That's the true test of a good driver. In last year's rain races, Massa struggled like I've never seen him in the dry, qualifying and racing at the back of the grid. And when have we ever seen him really race? I don't mean starting in front and running away. I mean getting into a tussle with someone in an equal car, like Schumacher and Alonso did at San Marino and Turkey the last couple of years. We haven't. Being a fast driver /= a good racer, otherwise test drivers would be regular drivers.

[Iceman18T]

Quote, originally posted by Kidstar »

If that were the case why didn't Kimi go round him?

Kimi was nursing his stricken Ferrari.

[Kidstar]

Quote, originally posted by Iceman18T »

Kimi was nursing his stricken Ferrari.

Kimi definitely had many an opportunity to take LH.

[ceerad]

Well, Ron Dennis said LH was playing it safe at the end of the race on an interview on speedtv.com that's why Kimi was catching up to him.He said as long as he was in front of Kimi is what mattered,it didn't matter how much he was ahead.Kimi didn't run the fastest lap at the end to close the gap,he just closed the gap by his own personal best laps and LH was cruising doing consistent lap times.He was just playing with Kimi just like massa,hoping kimi will blow his engine.Do u guys remember how close kimi got at the start/finish line? LH coast to the line and kimi had to avoid hiting him at the line.

[jsmyle1%...]

Quote, originally posted by ceerad »

Well....Ron Dennis said LH was "playing it safe" at the end of the race during an interview on speedtv.com. That's probably why Kimi was catching up to LH. Dennis said that all that mattered was that LH was in front of Kimi. It didn't matter how much he was ahead. Kimi didn't run the fastest lap at the end to close the gap. He just closed the gap by setting his own personal best laps while LH was cruising, doing consistent lap times. LH was just playing with Kimi, just like he did with Massa. He was probably hoping Kimi would blow his engine. Do you guys remember how close Kimi got at the start/finish line? LH coasted to the line and it appeared that Kimi had to avoid hiting him at the line.

Much better. Now I understand..... and I agree.

[jsmyle1%...]

Bump for the "eminent" Win # 1.

I guess it no longer is a matter of 'if' but more a matter of 'when.'

[vdubjb]

Massa pulled that one out of his ass, lol. Hammie better put that blackman's extra driving bone to work in the am, lol.

[SleeperA2]

That F1 recap show on speed is pretty interesting. They spoke about how LH slowed down on purpose to bait Massa into going faster in that corner and when Massa overshot it and went into the gravel, LH went back inside and got away clean. They said LH was almost apologetic when speaking about it. So basically Massa got schooled by the rookie big time. Can't wait to see what develops tomorrow with Ferrari and McLaren on the 1st 2 rows. Should be good stuff

[polov8]

Hamilton now on equal points with Kimi and Alonso at te top of the championship, and the first F1 rookie to take podiums in his first three races....... not bad

[vdubjb]

Bigup Hammie!! I'm very happy for him. I hope they make some revisions in Europe to get the car on pole and into 1st.

[Manu44]

He is an amazing driver. Wouldn't it be crazy if he won the championship?!

[Kidstar]

Quote, originally posted by Manu44 »

He is an amazing driver. Wouldn't it be crazy if he won the championship?!

No....

[Dubsolute]

What will Lewis accomplish once he's got some experience?

[EuroDubbin]

Quote, originally posted by Dubsolute »

What will Lewis accomplish once he's got some experience?

could he be the next shumy could he hmmmm......

[jsmyle1%...]

.............yawn.......another podium.

Speaking of podium, he certainly seems to really appreciate his F1 experience. It almost seemed as though he was about to get all choked up right at the end of his interview.

As for Massa........well, let's see.....Could his seemingly over-exaggerated post race excitement been somehow directed toward Schumy? Probably not..... Is there a gentleman's rivalry beginning between Massa and Hamilton? Probably..... Will Hamilton prevail? Absolutely!!!!!

[vdubjb]

Loving this season. I know my brit peeps are like Jense who? . Gotta find some straight line speed, the f car is still setting the pace. Season is shapping up nicely. His poise is almost historic.

[polov8]

The guy's had a record 4 podiums from his first 4 F1 races, outclassed his double world champion team mate twice in a row, and is leading the world championship.

The British GP this year is going to go crazy!

[wiredvw]

Ok...I guess the guy is an ok driver. Simply amazing that the guy really hasn't faltered yet. It will be interesting to watch him develop over the season, especially if he remains in the hunt.

[TazioNuvolari]

Something has to be said for his consistency. The biggest reason he leads WDC points is the fact that he hasn't had a bad race or reliability problems. Alonso got in a bad position in Spain and simply looked bad in Bahrain, Massa's car broke in Australia qualifying and he had a bad race in Malaysia, and Kimi's car broke in Spain and he simply hasn't adjusted to the Ferrari yet. Hamilton definitely is not the fastest of the top four, more likely he is 3rd or 4th fastest of the group, but his consistency has definitely pulled through. Ferrari has 4 poles and 3 wins, yet the guy with no wins and the team with no poles and no wins leads the title chase.

That said, I don't think Hamilton will be able to hold onto his lead without winning races. Massa is coming on very strong and Kimi and Alonso can not be ignored. Ferraris lack of reliability probably won't last long. You need speed to win a championship and I don't think Hamilton has as much speed as the other guys.

[Blaspherion]

I have often wondered how much of Hamilton's "lack of speed" has to do with fuel loads. Massa and Alonso consistently qualify better than he does and therefore McLaren tends to load up their "number two" cars on fuel versus the better qualifying car. I suspect that if Hamilton had a lighter fuel load at the start of a race that he would likely be able to stick with Massa on those initial laps where Massa has been stretching out long leads. It seems that when he does get lighter on fuel, the gaps shorten appreciably lap to lap as had happened in the last couple of races.

Thoughts?

Stan...