Lewis Hamilton - the next Michael Schumacher or a potential Formula 1 also-ran like Jacques Villeneuve?
The experts are predicting the new F1 sensation may well be world champion in his debut season. Villeneuve did exactly that - and look where he is now?
by Ally Shaham on 12 June 2007
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In the unpredictable world of Formula One, where hype can make or break a driver's career (just ask Jenson Button), is Lewis Hamilton the next truly great driver or a one-hit wonder? With Hamilton taking his maiden victory after all of six races, the media, the fans and former racing legends have gone into a state of frenzy. Charismatic commentator Murray Walker and former triple world champion Jackie Stewart have already announced that young Lewis can re-write the history books. Britain's last world champion Damon Hill believes Hamilton has a very strong chance of winning the championship in his rookie year - a view supported by the fact that the British newcomer leads the board by eight points. Under the current points system, that values consistency above everything else, and with McLaren being the team to beat, Hamilton's' competitors Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikonnen are facing an uphill struggle to overhaul the patient Englishman's lead. It is true that in Formula One, those who go on to achieve a higher level of success announce their arrival with verve rather than a slow build-up. It took Button some 100 races to win for the first time and even that was achieved mainly because of the many retirements during the unpredictable race in Hungary last summer. Cast your mind back to Michael Schumacher's first year, qualifying seventh on the grid in Spa on his debut and generally showing his legendary team-mate, Nelson Piquet, that there was a new kid on the block and he was not willing to sit patiently and wait for his turn. The late, great Ayrton Senna and four-times world champion Alain Prost also destroyed the competition in their first season before moving on to destroying each other. Hamilton has all the makings of a hero worthy of joining that elite group. He is calm, consistent and hard-working but also has an edge about him that has already caught the attention of F1's biggest spoilsport Jacques Villeneuve. On the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton was accused by the son of the local hero of being too aggressive at the start and employing tactics that have been fondly named 'Schuey Chops' after that great one's fondness for closing the door on his competitors. It is interesting to compare Hamilton's career at this stage with that of Villeneuve. As impressive as the new boy has been, one must remember that Villeneuve won the world championship in his second season under similar circumstances - by driving a car that was the benchmark. However, JV failed to capitalise on his success and instead opted for joining new team on the block BAR. Whether the move was for financial gain or for the challenge of starting over with a new team, that gamble did not pay off and he found himself battling for points from the back of the grid. Villeneuve eventually parted with BAR under acrimonious circumstances and became an 'also ran', F1's term for those drivers who never quite feature in a race and are there mainly to make up the numbers. His last team, BMW, sacked him mid-season and replaced him with the promising young talent Robert Kubica, who is recovering well after his horror smash at the Canadian Grand Prix.. Villeneuve's example illustrates that even winning a world championship is no guarantee that you will receive a place in F1's hall of fame. Just ask Alonso, double world champion and now second fiddle to the biggest sensation since Schumacher.
Comments (18)
by Malcolm on June 12, 2007
Lewis will romp to the title in his first season and bring the title back to England where it belongs. Schumy is a distant bad dream
by Jay on June 12, 2007
Schumacher acted like a mongrel. He might have been a good driver but he had no class whatsoever. Hamilton is all class. I dont care how many world championships Schumacher has, he'll never ever be a champion to me. I would loved t have used Schumi as my tire warmer.
by Shane Robinson on June 12, 2007
Brilliant. Yet another youngster getting hyped up by the Brits. I pity any young sports star in your country, they don't get a chance to carve out a career for themselves without being hyped up as the next someone or other. Why not leave the kid alone and let him race without pressure? Oh Malcolm, bring the title back to England where it belongs? Do you losers think you have some God given right to everyhting? Where it belongs? You have not won it or even come close in 11 years, before that, excluding a blip in the Brazil dominated Piquet & Senna run when Mansell won one it was 20 years. So, pray tell why you are so arrogant to suggest it belongs in England?
by Zain Abbas on June 12, 2007
that Lewis has the potential to replace Michael Schumacher as the King of F1!!! the days are not far when commentators will say "Lewis Magic"... Lewis its time you create your own podium customary jump... with a new style
by Paul on June 13, 2007
You carry on about England, who are if I remember the winningest nation for the manufacturing title by a huge margin, yet you fail to mention what golden land you hail from. Wonder when the last time, your country won a title in F1. If you are from Australia, well then I can understand the sour grapes, anywhere else and you are just plain uninformed!
by Shane Robinson on June 13, 2007
Hmm, was the point not about the drivers championship? Why then harp on about the manufacturers? This article is discussing Lewis Hamilton is it not, a driver last time I checked but as you say, maybe I am 'uninformed'. I fail to see the logic behind only those countries who have won an F1 title being informed enough to comment. How does that make any sense? Are these countries provided with some exlusive information upon winning the championship that other countries have not? Hardly. I'm Irish mate, we never won the title, hardly see how that is relevant though. Funny you should mention Australia, are they your chosen rivals of the month? Pathetic, if it's not the Germans/Argentinans/Aussies, etc. it's someone else. When other nations beat you at sport, they are better but of course off you all go then on revenge missions and that is your pre-occupation. The same happened the last time we played your lot in soccer, on top and winning but your lovely fans decided to tear up our stadium less than half an hour
by Sphinx on June 14, 2007
Comparing Lewis to Schumacher at such a stage in his career doesn't do justice. Schumacher along with Senna is/was and will be the greatest ever. Lewis has a long way to go. Long long way and we still don't know whether he can humiliate the grid like how MS/Senna did. That's raw talent. Lewis is on his way but this is too much too soon and boy, brts hyping up and destroying careers is not new. LOL :)
by MB on June 16, 2007
Hamilton has not proved anything yet. He is driving the best car at the moment. Most of the great drivers proved their worth in cars, that were slower than rest of the grid. This made them the drivers that they are today. Put Lewis in a Red Bull and let us see if he can live up to the hype. I don't think so..
by joseavs on June 17, 2007
Lewis Hamilton's hero is Ayrton Senna [see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt_PJqM-sRc] like him [Senna take a winning car for first time in 1988], he is now fighting with a two times F1 Champion: Fernando Alonso. The memorable battles in similar conditions against Alain Prost [I am not agree when you say that something like " Senna and Prost trying their mutual destruction"] it is the first time in near 20 years to see one raising star against 2 times champion. Schumacher never fight against world champions in one season. He fight against inferior pilots like him, but not with a real true champion. Lewis Hamilton is showing one thing: When a very talent --like him, no doubt!-- goes to a great F1 car and team, the rockie wins, ergo: Lewis Hamilton the next F1 World Champion.
Senna was superior than Schumacher.
by FIA on July 10, 2007
Way to go Maclaren...cheat you way to the lead. Ron Dennis says "we didnt use any of Ferraris technical data"....hahaha, what bull. Typical Englishmen...whiny,cheating scumbags.
by G Laporte on July 10, 2007
he was the 97 champion. in 96 he finished runner up to Damon Hill it did go down to the wire though (suzuka), but there villeneuve didnt finish whilst Hill took the win
by OMG on July 18, 2007
To MB - put Schumacher in a Red Bull in his day and where would he have ended up? Shit arguement....... Hamilton hasn't even driven on half the circuits he's already raced and he's finished on the Podium every damn time. Ahead of his 'experienced' team mate, I might add...... Give credit where it's due, the kid is doing phenominally well...... Even Schumacher is full of praise for the kid and he certainly knows a bit about racing drivers. Just search Youtube for 'Schumacher on Hamilton'
by Langer on July 24, 2007
Hamilton is driving a rocket,a very reliable rocket,stuped up on ferrari secrets possibly?),alonso is in a new team settling in as is kimi raikonnen ,hamilton to my knowledge has been with mcclaren a very long time ,i totally agree with shane r ,yet another british sport personality being hyped up by the most biased media in the world ,hamilton has a lot of talent and bright future but hyping him up to be the greatest of all time doesn't do him any favours ,give the kid f'n break . no one will ever come close t senna anyway
by noble one on July 30, 2007
hamilton will surely flop after this season if not this season! he will not be the next schumi but the next JV and the biggest spoilsport in motoracu=ing history!
by kate on August 05, 2007
[quote]hamilton will surely flop after this season if not this season! he will not be the next schumi but the next JV and the biggest spoilsport in motoracu=ing history![/quote] does this guy even watch the sport lewis hamilton has won every championship he has ever raced in and only one he didnt win in his first season, there is no reason to say why he wont win the formula 1 one. His consistency is his biggest assest and his coolness under pressure take today he had kimi breathing down his neck for over half the race and still held his nerves even when in a ferrari sandwich. the fact that he will flop after this season isnt true yes there will b more pressure on him but i will bet my bottom dollar that he comes through it
by alex on August 06, 2007
This young man is simply awesome, he is a genius behind the wheel. His tender years defy his maturity and coolness under pressure on the track and off. Even Alonso, now endangering his position at Maclaren is outclassed by this super talented young man and is resorting to spoiling tactics simply because he (Alonso) realises hes not in the same league. Talent and maturity dont disappear over night. Of course he will do well whether he is at Maclaren or Spyker, its utter rubbish to suggest that he will flop after his first season which still has so far to go. Of course the british press are proud of our lad and why shouldent they be, why shouldent we get behind him and Maclaren for that matter and help OUR home grown talents and business flourish in the wider world. Enjoy it while we have it and be proud that our country can produce an utterly specatcular young man like Lewis. Who would you want driving your car atm Alonso or Lewis? Who would you like to introduce to your grandmother Alonso or
by Rockfan on August 07, 2007
The above message suggests that if Lewis Hamilton was put in a less competitive car he would do as well as he is now! That is just silly! He has talent, yes but in a Spyker he would be in the same position as they are now! he is in the fastest car and he will do as well as the car allows. Did you see the way the car sliced through the field recently. Would the Spyker do that, no it would not. Looking at the world through rose tinted Lewis Hamilton glasses is just stupid. The better driver in that duo is Alonso, he has proved that twice! He is fast but not so fast that he cannot control his car, he is just the best. Lewis Hamilton has had everything his own way since he was a child and Ron Dennis has been completely taken in by his protege, that is until now! He will not forget being sworn at by one of his drivers, one that was in the wrong and caused the whole sorry incident last weekend! This has been a wake up call for Ron Dennis, he has now realised that this young man is arrogant and self cent
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