I missed the race so thanks for info
If Kimi keeps it up will he handle the pressure better than
Oscar did last year?
I was really expecting more out of Aston Martin this year. Big disappointment
I wouldn't be surprised if Max calls it quits this year.You know he's enjoying
the season so far.
Last year Kimi had a great start, and seemed to succumb to the pressure himself. F1TV mentioned that even if he doesn't win the championship this year, he has 2 more seasons to win it and still be the youngest ever champion. He looks great after 3 races, I see no reason for him to slump, but with a one month break, who knows what will happen? Will he lose his edge? Will Russell find his edge? Will other teams catch up to Mercedes, and Kimi has to win with a less dominant car?
I've never liked Max. He's been maturing and becoming palatable (much like Vettel did), but this season has really soured me on him more than ever. Just look at the comportment of all the world champions I've seen:
Damon Hill - shafted by Williams, and bounced around F1 as long as anyone would have him, and was happy to take it.
Jacques Villeneuve - tried to anchor a new F1 team. Didn't work out so well, but he tried. Then he bounced around F1 until he wore out his welcome.
Michael Schumacher - Made a name for himself at Benneton, then moved to Ferrari to help rebuild them into an F1 power house. It worked out for him, and Ferrari still gave him the boot when they wanted younger talent. Came back for Mercedes because he wasn't really done racing, and I feel like he was happy to race, even if he clearly was the #2 driver
Mika Hakkinen - journeyman F1 driver suddenly got an opportunity to show he was an all time great. I think the pressure... I wouldn't say 'too much', but he decided it wasn't worth it. Still on sabbatical.
Kimi Raikkonen - the unluckiest/luckiest champion I've ever seen. He earned at least 2 championships that McLaren couldn't deliver. (Aston Martin has learned the same lesson that Kimi did... Newey is good, but not infallible). Then McLaren handed him a championship being unable to manage Alonso/Hamilton, and of course their own cheating scandal. He was forced out of Ferrari too, and came back to F1 driving for anyone who would have him, and was pleased as punch to live out his dream every weekend.
Jenson Button - Like Hakkinen, seemed like he would be 'good' but never 'great' until he suddenly was. Always kept a grounded attitude that he would race as long as he could, but didn't seem entitled to it
Sebastian Vettel - Fought hard for his championships. May not have raced 'dirty', but definitely wasn't the most sportsmanlike racer either. Seemed to be entitled, and when things didn't go his way, was very vocal about it, and when things did go his way, was also very vocal about it. Mellowed once he stopped winning, and really did appreciate his own place in history, and the opportunities it afforded him.
Nico Rosberg - Another 'good' driver who looked like 'great' might pass him by until he won. He knew exactly what it would take to beat Lewis Hamilton again, and decided it was not worth it. I can respect that. If you have to give everything to win, you can only do it if you're ready to give everything. He wasn't, and realized he didn't belong in F1 anymore. At the time I didn't really get it, and seeing him in the media years after, I feel like he felt it was a mistake, but over time, I think he made the right choice, and he realizes he made the right choice. Being a multi generational champion,being a teammate who outraced both Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton has got to be more pressure than most athletes ever face.
Lewis Hamilton - As a young racer was headstrong and aggressive like most of them are. Won a championship early, continued to fight like a young racer. Then he went to work with Niki Lauda and became more focused, won a zillion championships. Then the rules changed, and he couldn't compete. Did he complain? Yes. Did he threaten? No. He moved to Ferrari, to be the next Michael Schumacher after Alonso, Vettel had failed. And then he struggled. Did he complain? Sure. Did he threaten? Never. He knows it's a team game, and he worked with his team. He knows it's a media driven sport, and he worked with the media. Of all the former champions I've seen, he is the pinnacle. He tries to elevate his team, his sport, his friends, his family and his fans. He's not perfect, but even in his imperfection, he brings a humanity that Max still hasn't learned to express. There are still times where I see in Lewis Hamilton that excited kid who can't believe he gets to race cars, and he's eternally grateful for that, and that gratitude extends to all the people who make that happen for him - teammates, friends, family, fans, the rest of the F1 grid.
If Max can't do that, good riddance. He'll be a footnote, a champion where his father failed, another beneficiary of Adrian Newey's brilliance, someone who showed up, did the job and then left as fast as he could. By all means, a driver SHOULDN'T be in F1 if they don't enjoy it. It's a dangerous sport, and there are plenty of young racers who deserve a shot. I may not respect Max, and be happy if he leaves, I'd be equally unhappy if he stays where he doesn't want to be. Kimi and Alonso both took time away from F1, and came back as heroes. Maybe Max can do that. Step away, get the Triple Crown Alonso never did, and then come back when the regs are to his liking.
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