"Lewis Hamilton is a Legend"

[FW14B]

Great to see you back Johnbull!  Hope all has been well with you.

You're right about F1 in 2010, there are lots of very exciting drivers and I hope they're allowed to just race all out as their instincts tell them to!

[Scott]

WOW - Welcome back John! 

I don't hold Hammy quite that high, but I will be willing to watch and wait to see what he becomes.

[Ian]

Hello again JB, I would'nt call Hammy a legend yet, maybe in a few years he might attain that lofty peak, good to have you back. 

[johnbull]

WOW - Welcome back John! 

I don't hold Hammy quite that high, but I will be willing to watch and wait to see what he becomes.

Put it this way. He's 23, 24 years old. He's already won a World Championship, and a fair few GPs.

How many guys can you think of that have done that?

And more importantly he thrills us with his mere driving presence on the track.

In my 48 years of following F1 closely, I can't recall seeing more than a handfull of drivers that have had those sort of statistics, though I will be the first to admit that with a bit more use of the brain he could have won lots more.

[Scott]

His statistics are remarkable, but I wouldn't call him a legend based on those (yet).  Otherwise we'd have to call Schumacher one, which I'm inclined to, but I think there are a few members who wouldn't agree. 

[SennaMan]

Lewis certainly has the potential to become a legend however he is not a master yet. Other people here have suggested he needs to become more complete in his approach to racing and I agree with that  God forbid though on his learning curve to become a legendary multi champion he loses his flair for combative and exiciting racing altogether, we the spectators would be the losers.
 
For me his main problem is the huge expectation constantly on his shoulders, most other youngsters have to work their way through from a lower team before they get the chance at the WDC in a top team. Lewis now also seems to lack the older wiser confidante, Jim Clark had colin, Jackie had Ken even Schumi had Flavio and then Ross & Jean, it's time he got a manager who will devote themselves to him - a bit like the lady behind Petrov.  He has never really had a chance to be out of the spotlight and that can take a toll. I hope Lewis is taking notice as Jenson demonstrates to him that there is another way other than his usual balls out, but risky, charging style to win races.

Even though I am a real Jenson fan I still feel that Lewis, providing he continues to learn, is more likely to win more WDCs than Jens over the next five years; and that's not just an age thing. Ah but maybe not this year.
 

Wow John, thanks for such an enlightening and perceptive post.

I now know lewis a bit better thanks to your piece.

You're a legend mate.

[Monty]

A 'legend' is a story or a myth. To be 'legendary' someone or something has to be worthy of people telling stories.
I think Hamilton is already a legendary racer. Not a great driver, not a perfect person but a great racer. On this forum alone people have found him to be sufficiently noteworthy to discuss his overtaking (22 competitive overtakes this season according to Martin Brundle).
Others have become legends because of the number of race wins or championships but people like Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, etc. are legends without huge success.
Michael Schumacher is a legend because of his cheating and dirty tactics (hadn't mentioned that for several; posts )

Whereas I am more of a leg-end than a legend.

[cosworth151]

Good to have you back, JB! We've missed you.

[johnbull]

Good to have you back, JB! We've missed you.

Thanks Cossie.  I was very glad to see that both the standard of the general discussion and that of the Pit Babes has certainly not deteriorated in my absence. 

[SennaMan]

Good to have you back, JB! We've missed you.

Thanks Cossie.  I was very glad to see that both the standard of the general discussion and that of the Pit Babes has certainly not deteriorated in my absence. 

that may be quite true JB but now you are back the Forum will certainly improve.

welcome again JB, we missed your input mate

btw, any news of your own racing exploits - how is your boy doing?

[johnbull]

Thanks Cossie.  I was very glad to see that both the standard of the general discussion and that of the Pit Babes has certainly not deteriorated in my absence. 

that may be quite true JB but now you are back the Forum will certainly improve.

welcome again JB, we missed your input mate

btw, any news of your own racing exploits - how is your boy doing?

[/quote]


We had a good 2009 season with the new car. It got better as the season progressed and he ended up circuit champion in his class in Sicily.

We're off again tomorrow week starting off the new Italian season, this time in the 2000 class since we have supercharged the engine. Results on local hill climbs to date have been very encouraging. Let's hope it stays in one piece.

I'll keep you all posted in the right place in this forum.

Thanks for the welcome, everyone.