In a career of 6 races to date he has podiumed 6 times.
Yesterday he won his first grand prix.
At this rate, whilst it is very early to start making predictions, you have to think the other drivers dont know whats hit them and he could well have the potential to match Schmachers earnings of $1bn.
Yesterdays race was superb.
He looks awesome and seems to be a great fit for the sport. Is he the Tiger Woods of F1? (as some have been calling him) - will have to wait and see, but so far he is pretty decent for sure. Not only is he an amazing driver, he’s also very articulate and a good spokesperson. Seems pretty genuine too so hoepfully he doesn’t let all this celebrity and money get to his head too much.
Lewis Hamilton is the real deal. I think it would be an amazing result to win the world championship as a rookie and Hamilton certinaly has a shot at it, but he driver that surprised me the most during the Canadian Grand Prix was Alonso. How could a double world champion make so many errors?
I was watching the idiots on the news last night describe Hamilton as “the first African American to ever win a Formula 1 race”.
I am not sure he went through the first two corners on the track once in the first 4 or 5 laps, it was unbelievable.
I wonder if the combination of Hamilton going and holding him off through the first corner came as a bit of a shock and he simply overcooked it and when he went off he did something to the car because he really had a problem with the braking distance going in to that corner in the race.
LOL! I hadn’t realized that.
As always the case in F1, he will be a superstar as long as he is driving one of the top 2 cars. He is a good driver, but in F1, it’s all about the car and which end of the “team orders” you get.
I was watching him win the race yesterday and wondering what the press would call a black guy from England. I guess you don’t call him anything other than a race car driver which is pretty cool.
I saw the “articulate” comment above and while it is dangerous to apply that term to someone of color, I have seen a few of his post race press conferences and it is striking how poised he is for a 22 year old rookie in what is one of the most intense fan/media frenzied sports on earth. I guess he must be just as cool in the car too. He is the real deal. I bet sponsors are salivating over Hamilton since guys who can both finish up front and be let out in public are somewhat rare in F1 which means he will have the cash drawing power to stay in great cars. His prospects are bright.
They have been referring to him as a british driver, they have also referenced that he the first successful black driver in F1.
He is amazingly composed in what is an insane environment, that said you dont want someone who is not composed behind the wheel of a car doing 200mph so its not hugely surprising.
“Articualte” in F1 terms means anyone who isn’t Finnish (just listen to Kimi…zzzzz…). Hamilton is easily the most eloquent and media friendly driver to enter F1 in a loooong time.
He’s the real deal too in driving terms. Alonso has always struggled to deal when he’s had pressure form a teammate, it just hasn’t happened very often before.
No doubt he is awesome. VERY impressive…, really has only made one mistake (practice Monaco) in 6 GP’s.
I think there is no doubt he is in Fernandos head big time… Fernando was really trying to push…and trying to overdrive the car, ending up offline…in the marbles, and spent a huge amount of timne off track…The best part of all was watching Taku Sato in the lowly Super Aguri overtake the double world champ…that was unfreaking unbelievable . I have been at the last two Canadian GPs, unfortunately I missed this one due to a pregnant wife near the end of term…but my friend who was there said the stands absolutely erupted when Sato overtook Alonso.
I wish I would have been there to see Hamiltons maiden GP win, but anyway. Just think, after a few years when he wins everything, wins a few World Champs, and dominates everyone…everyone will start to dislike because he will win too much, just like ol’ MS did. It will be interesting to see Fernando and Lewis’ battles the rest of the season.
I was in Montreal this weekend sitting in the grand stand directly across from the McLaren and Ferrari pits.
I’ve followed F1 since the mid 60’s and can say it’s more now than ever about the car than the driver. In the old days drivers mattered more. Not to take anything away from this kid but nowadays it’s the car that wins the race. Even Schumacher wouldn’t have done it without the vastly technical superiority of Ferrari during his stint.
Hamilton has been groomed by the McLaren organization for this moment since he was a kid racing go-carts. He’s in the right place at the right time. He wouldn’t have won if he was racing any other car entered in that race.
I suspect he’ll be the first rookie to win the F1 championship. History is made, but IMO, it’s only a sign of the times.
Give me a Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart or Gilles Villeneuve. Those were more exciting eras
I’ll still follow F1, should be interesting to see how Alonso responds…
SlimJim…great that you got a few souveniers…thats exactly what I told my friend as we were watching the race…alot of people are going to get some great memoribilia from this race…there were sooo many people hitting wall…all over theplace…pieces of car everywhere! So Glad Kubica is going to be OK…HOLY cow the new breed of F1 chassis are soo safe…the kid had a sprained anlke only…Thats it!
Last year as we were leaving walking on the track a guy right in front of us found Villeneuves front wing endplate…if you remember he hit the wall and retired (in his ;last Canadian GP it turns out) …the track marshall had thrown the pieces of wing INTO the various circles of tire barrier that were tied together…this guy right in front of pulls out this sweet piece of carbon fiber out of the tires and starts smiling …what a great find!
I missed this year but plan again to return next year, great city and race, great park on the island as well.
Speaking of good souveniers…my cousin gave me a single print photo of Jean Alesi.s win in the Ferrari at Canada in the late 80’s …cant remember the exact year right off. Still got that phot hanging in my office.
I would love to get a hold of some F1 parts. I’ve got a couple of parts off of some NASCAR cars, including the front bumper of Jeff Gordon’s Monte Carlo, a Fire Suit from Dale Jarrett’s Ford Quality Team, and I also got a piece of the front wing from Bobby Rahals 1990’s era Miller Genuine Draft car, so some sweet CF would be a nice addition.
There was a guy riding the subway after the race holding a big piece of a front end from one of the cars. Nice souvineer, although i really don’t know what he’s do with it other than hang it in the rafters in his garage.
My biggest souvineer - a photo I took of Dan Gurney beside his car in paddock at the 1966 British GP at Brands Hatch when I was 14 yrs old. If I remember right he was driving for Brabham.
Anyone see the SI article this week on Lewis …fairly nice three page bit…
One thing though… one quote… he something along the lines that winning pole in Canada “was better then sex.”…that boy is obviously too young to have had much good sex…though I ve also never driven an F1 car. 