Go On, Admit It, He Has Done Brilliantly

Tuesday 22nd July 2008

PF1ers deliver their verdict on Lewis Hamilton's sublime performance at the German Grand Prix, team orders, Felipe Massa's lack of 'driving magic' and the blundering ITV...

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Hamilton Is On A Roll
So what do the Hamilton knockers say now? The two best performances of the season so far in a row, no one can say Hamilton isn't brilliant now without sounding completely stupid.

Hamilton has every right to say he did a fantastic job because it's quite simply the truth. When he does a bad job, he admits it, so there's nothing wrong in admitting when he's done it brilliantly!

Of course there are people out there who will still say he's cr@p, he won't win a title, it's the best car etc, these are the same kind of people who probably still think the earth is flat, bless.

Some people in the UK say they feel like they get Lewis Hamilton rammed down their throats all the time. So?! Don't you think Germany did the same about Schumacher? Didn't Brazil do the same about Senna and no doubt Spain about Alonso? Hamilton hasn't won a title yet but in his rookie year he beat the current World Champion at that time in the same car and only missed out on winning the title by two points. People say you can't or shouldn't be comparing him to the likes of Senna and Schumacher yet but the fact is, he is the most successful rookie of all time! He is way ahead of where Senna and Schumacher were at the same stage of their careers regardless of how good his car is so there is every chance is will be as good as them if not better. He could easily go on to be the greatest F1 driver of all time if you think about the level he started at and the level he could eventually reach and that's why so many people are getting so excited.

All the papers who gave him such a hard time (especially the Daily Mail) have absolutely no right to bask in the glory of his victories, but of course, they're all printing nothing but praise again now.
Lee Grant - Milton Keynes

...Would be a brave man that was willing to put a bet on someone other than Hamilton to lift the Drivers' Championship this year. He arrives at a track, does a few laps then it's on to fastest times and pole position for the race. Everyone else including Ferrari are commenting on handling issues or some other problem whilst Hamilton and McLaren just get on with it. Last few races he is not just say two seconds in front but almost on a different planet all together. The car seems totally reliable, the team perform well and he drives without fault. If this lasts, it is a combination that will reap many race wins and surely the Championship. At the moment Ferrari are almost handing it to them on a plate, with wrong strategies, car problems and often lacklustre driving from their drivers. It is unbelievable that Hamilton had a bigger problem passing his own team-mate in this race than he had passing Massa. Hamilton and McLaren's present superiority has the potential to emulate Michael Schumacher and Ferrari's dominance of F1 from 2000 to 2004. Unless the new 2009 regulations throw up a few surprises, they may well be favourites next season also. When all the pieces click together at McLaren, they mesh very, very well.
Ray D - UK

...Another great drive by Hamilton although a part of me wonders if it was a great drive or a poor performance by everyone else. But I'm left wondering as to where the outrage is over the team orders clearly employed by McLaren. Personally I feel that team orders are a part of F1 and should be allowed, however there is usually a great deal of outrage when Ferrari employ them, and yet there hasn't been a peep about Kovi moving over to allow Lewis by. Not only that, but the world feed showed what looked like Ron Dennis giving the order for Heikki to move over. I also find it interesting that the so-called Ferrari biased FIA have said or done nothing even though they have banned team orders.

As I said, I have no problem with team orders but the FIA made them illegal, and McLaren clearly employed them, so I don't see why there hasn't been at least an investigation into their use. Hell, penalize Hamilton 8 seconds and call it a day, but they should at least be seen to be enforcing the rules. And as to those hypocrites that scream bloody murder when Ferrari use team orders, but are silent now, you know who you are.
Bruce Ford - Florida

...Once again I find myself congratulating Lewis Hamilton.

I'm not a Hamilton fan but his performance in Germany on Sunday have definitely make me take note of the young driver's abilities. He claimed the title on Sunday and his competition will have to beat him to take it away.

McLaren made a little slip with the pit strategy but in doing so gave Heikki a boost. Lewis wasn't under any pressure during any stage of the race, this afforded the team the luxury of actually messing around with their race plans. Easy win, period.

Piquet pulled off a very surprising second place finish for Renault. While Nelson himself called his finish lucky it was more a case of a monster gamble going his way. He deserved the second place and have secured his place with Renault.

Alonso might be steaming. He was expected to be the guy to give Renault their much needed podium finish yet ended up in a position that one would expect Nelson to make.

Ferrari. Massa didn't have the pace to keep up with Lewis not even to mention catch or pass. Kimi seemed to be nowhere during the whole weekend. His attitude towards the situation spelled out in capital letters with his statement that there is no crisis at Ferrari. It's like a man with his head on fire saying nothing's wrong!

After the race Michael's role on the pit wall became clear. He was there to observe not to analyse or assist. The way Michael was staring off down the pit lane with his back turned to the monitors an indication of the attitude of Ferrari's higher-ups to the team's performance. Out of 10 races Ferrari failed in 5.

Germany was yet another mediocre performance.

With McLaren now the team to beat the rest of the season seems to be somewhat an anti-climax. Many fans expected a close finish like we had last year, unless Ferrari and BMW get themselves back it won't happen.
Chris van Wyk - South Africa

...Oh look at the forum pages here!

The very second Lewis passed Heikki I could hear the sound of the Hamilton haters frantically typing TEAM ORDERS!!!! all the way across the forum and a quick look today shows I was right. Presumably if Lewis had leapt out of Fernando's way at Indy last year this would have been okay, but when he's miles faster than his team-mate and the only one in with a shout of the win, it isn't.

Plus I suspect that these are many of the same people last year who claimed Alonso was treated badly and that Lewis should have deferred to him. Ah well.

What I was surprised about was the vitriol directed at Massa and Piquet and the comments used to back up the increasingly dull "Hamilton can't overtake" arguments by saying that the passes on Massa and Piquet weren't "real" because they were "too easy". How about incisive and aggressive? No? Perhaps the sight of that yellow helmet in the rear view mirror is beginning to have the same effect as the last time someone wore one.

Hamilton still needs to calm down, he still needs to demonstrate consistency but it really is time many of my fellow PF1 ers woke up and smelled the coffee.
Mark Hicks

And Onto The Issue Of Team Orders

I was shocked and appalled at today's image of Dennis contacting Kovalainen on team radio, and a few seconds later witnessing the driver obediently opening the door for his team-mate. Someone try and convince me now that Silverstone was not the same.

So much for Mr Integrity's policy of equality. Disgraceful.
D. Clue - New York, USA

... Dennis said: "Lewis was nearly a second quicker than Heikki through the race and when he was told Lewis was quicker he just let him past."

"It was a tremendous sporting gesture and it's what being in a racing team is about. True team-mates do these things because that's the way they are."

Ain't that team orders? If all drivers know his rival on his back are faster than him, must they let them overtaking him? Can imagine half grid letting other drivers pass you because they're faster. "Come on guys, pass me, I've the lights on".
Elcrowley

...How can Ron Dennis justify practically telling Heikki Kovalainen move over to let his team-mate through? He claims it was a good gesture and sportsmanship. But please be serious, if Lewis Hamilton was that talented he would have been able to overtake his team-mate without having to have him move over quite blatantly for him.

McLaren are slowly killing this sport off. It's worse than the Ferrari years.
Kayleigh - Brighton, England

...Although I believe it was a well deserved win for Hamilton, I fail to see how Heikki was able to just deliberately move over and let his team mate through without breaching FIA rules of team orders confirmed by Hamilton in the post race press conference.

But then again, it is not Ferrari and it is not Michael Schumacher so I guess we won't hear any complaints.
Mike - Canada

Massa Is Falling Short
What rubbish race craft Felipe Massa showed us he has in the German Grand Prix. With just 11 laps left, he sits in second place, ahead of all his Championship rivals. Hamilton storms up behind him, so Felipe's now not only in a battle for second place, but for the outright Championship lead. Initially he goes defensive on the long run down to the hairpin, but then in the braking zone just completely opens the door. What does he think Hamilton is going to do? Just utter stupid racing from Felipe, and soon Ferrari are going to have to wake up to themselves and realise that this guy is not going to win a World Championship for them. Just because Michael Schumacher likes him, is not a reason to keep the guy. On his day he's quick, no doubt, but he has his 'favourite' circuits... a World Champion can win at any circuit, oh and let's not forget what happens when it rains...

Get Alonso or Kubica in that seat, and they'll be more than capable of bringing another WDC to Ferrari, or at the very least, they'll put up more of a fight on the racetrack for the outright lead of the World Championship.
Andrew Jackling - Melbourne, Australia

...Massa just fell short of driving off the track to make sure Hamilton got passed ok. Then his halfhearted attempt to get back at Hamilton only further proved Lewis's superior driving ability. Ferrari seem to be in a bit of a pickle. On one hand they appear to have total commitment from Massa but unfortunately he just lacks that little piece of driving magic to be the best. On the other hand they appear to have a questionable commitment from Raikkonen who has or at least once had the magic to be the best. At the moment neither driver can be described as the ideal complete package. I can't help but think that Ferrari's recent failing form may be due in part to the team's apparent desire to let former key members go and promote from within. At the moment, the loss of Ross Brawn and Jean Todt seem to be costing them dearly. In the early to mid 90's, Ferrari were a mess. Their drivers were lucky to finish a race let alone win one. The hiring of Todt, Schumacher, Bryne and Brawn eventually proved to be a force no other team could compete with. So did Ferrari think that once these guys had inputed all their expertise and knowledge, they could then go it alone? Not really working out as planned, is it Mr di Montezemolo. Frankly, I don't see Ferrari and either driver able to step up to McLaren and Hamilton's level for the rest of the season.
Ray D - UK

The Weekly Space Devoted To ITV

The highlight of the weekend? Blundell's comment during qualifying on Saturday:

"We've not seen a performance like this for the remainder of the weekend."

It was wonderful; topped only by Hamilton's drive.
Amanda - UK

...Thanks ITV. You really showed your true colours again by only showing the interview of Lewis Hamilton after the German race. I think we have unfortunately become aware that it is the Lewis Hamilton show and Lewis Hamilton show only but it would have been great to have heard Nelson Piquet speak after managing to get his first podium finish, especially after the slack he has been getting from the media. It would have also been useful to hear Felipe Massa speak in regards to why he fell asleep after the safety car but as usual we were not given that chance.

I can only hope the BBC show more professionalism when telecasting Formula 1 as it should be. Formula 1 is an international sport right? Also words of advice for Steve Rider, next time wipe the drool off your microphone, its disgusting.
Michelle - London, United Kingdom

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