GPWizard F1 Forum
F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: Wizzo on June 24, 2007, 03:24:19 PM
-
David Coulthard admits he will never forget the day Lewis Hamilton asked him for advice.
And the grand prix veteran, at 36 the oldest man on the grid, reckons the reply he gave might well have played a part, even if only in a small way, in setting Britain's wonderkid on his way to the world championship.
"I'd known Lewis since he was a little boy," said Coulthard last week. "And I'll never forget that day when we were walking around the Hugo Boss store in Stuttgart and chatting.
"Lewis was driving in the Euro F3 category at the time but wanted to move to GP2. McLaren wanted him to stay in Euro F3 because they felt he needed more experience, but Lewis wasn't happy and asked me whether he should move on from McLaren.
"Now, I've had problems with McLaren in my time, but my advice to him that day was to stay put because McLaren would nurture him. A few years on and it looks like good advice, don't you think? I'm the guy's biggest fan and I even feel I might have played a minor part in his subsequent success."
The key to Coulthard's story, which he tells not as a boast but simply to shed light on the irresistible rise of Hamilton in his debut season in Formula One, is that the Scot, while applauding the massive talents of the 22-yearold currently heading the drivers' championship by 10 points after back-to-back F1 victories, believes the part played by McLaren in sport's most compelling story of the year cannot be underestimated.
"Don't get me wrong," said Red Bull driver Coulthard. "I'm just trying to lay out all the factors for you, factors which Lewis would be the first to admit. But there's no doubt about it. Lewis is the right man, at the right time and in the right place.
"Last year McLaren failed to win a single race. If they had continued in that vein this year, people might be recognising Lewis's talent but he would not have become the story of the year. Likewise, if McLaren produce a dog of a car next season, people will start saying: 'What's gone wrong with Lewis?'
"The bottom line is that McLaren have the two best cars on the grid. Then Ferrari, and then BMW. That's why their six drivers lay currently one to six in the drivers' championship, and that's why they fill the first three places in the constructors' race. The McLaren drivers should finish either first or second in every race. Second is a disappointing result for whichever McLaren driver it may be. Third, with that car, is bordering on the disastrous."
Coulthard's credentials are impeccable. Now in his 14th season, he has scored more F1 points than any British driver in history and he has raced against some of the most iconic figures in the sport.
The names of two of them — Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna — are thrown into the mix as Coulthard evaluates Hamilton's talents.
"How good is Lewis?" he said. "Undoubtedly, the guy is very special. I'd say he is a combination of the two Brawn has left them. That has to be a factor," said Coulthard.
He also offers a technical reason for Hamilton stealing a march on his McLaren team-mate, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who currently trails the Briton by 10 points in the drivers' championship.
Coulthard said: "Last year, Fernando was driving on Michelin tyres with Renault. Lewis was driving on Bridgestones in GP2. This year, McLaren are using Bridgestones and, believe me, from a driver's viewpoint, it takes a little time to get used to driving on new tyres. Lewis hasn't needed to."
So is Hamilton's achievement not quite so remarkable as the world seems to believe? Coulthard, speaking at Wembley Stadium where he will be featuring in the Race of Champions event in December, shakes his head and laughs.
"Oh no, it's remarkable, all right," he said. "You ask any of the drivers and they'd all say that they knew all about Lewis before he joined F1 this season. Most of us have trodden the same path as him, so we all knew by what he was achieving in the lesser categories that he possesses bags of talent.
"But there's plenty about the story that has surprised me. McLaren's total dominance, for one, has taken us all aback. To go from no wins last season to their current position is amazing.
"Perhaps the biggest surprise has been Lewis's performances. He's an F1 rookie and in seven races so far he's produced virtually flawless drives. Supposedly better and experienced drivers like Fernando and Kimi Raikkonen have been making mistakes, but not Lewis.
"The fact that he's beaten, fair and square, his team-mate and double world champion is very, very impressive."
Indeed, the season has not gone at all to plan for Alonso, who left Renault after winning back-to-back titles to join McLaren, only to be overshadowed by a rookie who was supposed to be learning from the Spaniard.
Signs of a rift between the McLaren of them. He possesses Senna's natural talent, confidence and aggression, but also Prost's smoothness and patience.
"That's a pretty impressive cocktail but Lewis has got it. We had Senna and Prost, Mansell and Piquet, then Michael Schumacher. We have now just entered the Lewis Hamilton era."
Coulthard acknowledges the scale of the compliment he has paid to a rookie driver, albeit one who has claimed seven podium finishes in his first seven races, including victories in the last two — the Canadian and US grands prix.
Crucially, he also suggests that McLaren's chief rivals have been caught napping by Hamilton's explosion on to the F1 scene.
"It's no coincidence that Ferrari are slightly off the pace just when Ross pair, and Alonso's anger at what he perceived to be preferred treatment for the British driver by his British team, have been denied and glossed over by McLaren, keen as they are, with the constructors' and drivers' titles seemingly theirs for the taking, to keep both their stars on track. Coulthard is an interested onlooker.
"There's no doubt about it, Fernando is all at sea at the moment and he's showing his Latin temperament. He's had a couple of off-days, unlike Lewis, and that's why he finds himself 10 points behind his team-mate.
"But I don't have a problem with what Fernando said in terms of how he sees McLaren favouring Lewis. People have criticised him for saying this, but he was asked a question and he answered it honestly.
"He came from a team where he turned from a boy to a man. He's joined a team where he doesn't know the personalities. It coincides with Lewis transforming from a boy to a man, having been part of the McLaren family for over 10 years.
"McLaren will do their level best to give both guys an equal chance to go for the drivers' title, but I can understand Fernando's feelings and he now has to work hard to feel at least an equal part of the team."
The rest of the season could well be even more exciting than the first seven races, starting at Magny-Cours next weekend at the French Grand Prix, followed one week later by the British Grand Prix at a Silverstone promising to be a sell-out on the back of Hamilton's formidable start in F1.
"Well, Fernando's not just going to give up, is he?" said Coulthard. "He's going to try everything he can to win a third, consecutive world title, he's getting more used to the different tyres each week, and there's still two-thirds of the season remaining.
"As each race passes, so the pressure will grow on Lewis. Right now he's still so young,everything is still so new and he's enjoying himself so much, I doubt he's feeling any pressure at all. He's going to have an incredible amount of support at Silverstone, and Ron Dennis at McLaren is just about the best man to ensure he is protected from too many outside interests, and that he gets on with the job. But the journey he's just started is a long one. All the signs are that Lewis will have a great career, but that's something that needs to be reviewed at the end of it, not now."
What Coulthard will say about them now, however, does not diminish the incredible and unexpected story that is Lewis Hamilton.
"McLaren will win the constructors' title, of that there's no doubt, and their drivers will be first and second in the drivers' title race."
In what order? "Based on the evidence of the first seven races, I have to say that it's looking very good for Lewis to become world champion in his first year in Formula One. And that,regardless of how good his car may be,would be really something."
-
How good is Hamilton...?
I'd say pretty damn good, dont you think.
Granted its early in this season..and he's new to F1, but certainly not new to racing...
He has a great future at F1...and will win a championship one day....
A lot more than others can claim to have achieved..and who have been racing for a lot longer...!
-
I think it's good to see him showing Alonso up, but as a driver I'd prefer to have seen him having to struggle a bit first. I don't find it that interesting that he's not having to work too hard at it yet, unlike poor Button or Davidson....
Love Lynda XX :)
-
At Indy, he looked like he could do just about whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.
-
I think he is clearly incredibly good. He has gone into a team with the driver who was going to dominate the post-Schumacher era and blown him away. I know he only has a ten point lead but he has spooked Alonso and has received compliments I never thought I would hear about a rookie from some of the greats of the sport and Eddie Irvine.
-
Actions speak louder than words. Results speak volumes.
Has anybody had the sort of results LH has had ? 3rd in his first GP. A string of 2nds, and then a couple of fantastic wins from pole.
It doesn't get much better than that. OK so he is in the best car. But look who his yardstick is - the fellow that has beaten the greatest driver of them all, not once but twice.
Yes, I think I can say quite confidently that Lewis is the future. In fact I wouldn't be in the least surprised if he ends up 2007 World Champ.
-
Hamilton is VERY good. No doubt about it. Let's not forget that Alonso was pretty much the only guy to take the fight to Schumacher in recent times, and Hamilton seems to have the measure of him.
People have pointed out, with some justification, that he's in the best car at the moment, but let's not forget that he's managed to make Alonso look quite ordinary in comparison a lot of the time.
-
I agree with all the statements about Lewis and his natural driving talent....but I still believe the true strength of a driver is how they deal with adversity...let's see how lewis goes when things are not going his way at all....will he hold the dignity of some of the drivers or will he have a melt down like some of the other drivers....
Personally I believe Lewis will do well under adversity....only time will tell though
Rom
-
I don't want to start thinking about next season yet but it is worth considering that until the last season or two Lewis had a reputation for needing a settling in season in a new formula before he delivered in the second season. I can't imagine what he will be like in future if this is just a settling in year.
-
I don't want to start thinking about next season yet but it is worth considering that until the last season or two Lewis had a reputation for needing a settling in season in a new formula before he delivered in the second season. I can't imagine what he will be like in future if this is just a settling in year.
:good: I can't wait !!! :good:
-
Who, prior to the start of the season, would have thought that Alonso could finish the 2007 season as the McLaren number two driver?
I wrote on another forum that I thought his better races would come within the European (GP2) circuit. Hamilton has exceeded all expectations. Who'd have thought he'd be the championship leader after 8 races?
-
Hamilton has done an amazing job this season, he is withouth doubt the real deal. I just worry that his coverage in the press will soon reach saturation point. Seeing things like Hamilton's team McLaren... in the papers is just wrong in my opinion. Still, that could be me being a grumpy man who has seen someone he has liked for years suddenly become so massively popular!
-
Hamilton has done an amazing job this season, he is withouth doubt the real deal. I just worry that his coverage in the press will soon reach saturation point. Seeing things like Hamilton's team McLaren... in the papers is just wrong in my opinion. Still, that could be me being a grumpy man who has seen someone he has liked for years suddenly become so massively popular!
I know just what you mean, but thats the British press all over. Soon the Lewis Hamilton overdose will start to annoy people.
Still I always knew he would be good, but never in my wildest imaginings did I ever think he'd be this good in his debut season. It does annoy me though that too many people assume that I'm just another bandwagon jumper.
-
I know what you mean about the bandwagon thing. For me there are two distinct groups of fans associated with F1. There are F1 fans who know about F1 and nothing else and there are motor racing fans who are interested in all sorts of racing and most of use remember reading about Lewis (and Button) from when they were in karting. For some reason Autosport picked up on these two very early on and tracked their careers in a way it hasn't done with any other driver.
Two or three years ago I was telling people not to get caught up in the Button hype as they would all be Lewis Hamilton fans ina few years. Strange now none ofthem remember this and all of them think they have discovered a great new talent in Lewis.
-
Two or three years ago I was telling people not to get caught up in the Button hype as they would all be Lewis Hamilton fans ina few years. Strange now none ofthem remember this and all of them think they have discovered a great new talent in Lewis.
:D Great post, it is so true!
-
What you are saying Roy,is if we were to put Jenson in the same package(McClaren Car) today he would not win or be as good as Lewis?
-
If Button was in the second McLaren it is my belief that Alonso would be leading the drivers championship.
-
I think Button is massively over-hyped. In the junior formulae Lewis won every championship he entered Button won practically nothing. I can't believe Honda wrote the cheque it did to get him out of the Williams contract.
I think Alonso would love to have Button as a team mate because he would beat him easily.
I saw an interesting quote from Lewis today. He said he always wanted to race Schumacher 'but as soon as I get to F1 he bales out'. It is almost like he is goading Schumacher to come back so that he can beat him.
-
Well, I am hoping that Hamilton is confirmed for the Race of Champions this year as he will get that opportunity (as well as being able to race in equal equipment to Button).
-
The ROC is always good, but this year should be special.
Shumi, Lewis, Heike K, Exstrom who won it last year, Loeb, Coulthard.
Got to be good. :good:
-
I've got my ticket booked for the event. Can't wait to see it take place in Wembley Stadium.
-
Wembley confirmed as '07 RoC host
The 2007 Race of Champions will take place at the new Wembley Stadium in England, event organisers have confirmed today.
The annual event, which sees drivers from various categories of motorsport go head to head for the title of Champion of Champions as well as for the Nations Cup, has been held at the Stade de France in Paris, France, for the last three years.
And as revealed already three months ago by Motorsport News, the organisers have now elected the London Wembley Stadium as the new hosting venue.
"I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at the Stade de France and the fantastic French fans for the three great years we have had here," commented Race of Champions organiser Fredrik Johnsson.
"For 2007, we have been talking to some of the world's most prestigious stadiums and I can tell you this evening that the 20th anniversary event will take place next year at the new Wembley Stadium in London, England.
"But we do hope to be able to come back here to Paris again some time in the future."
Wembley Stadium has been undergoing a massive makeover in recent years, and the historic venue is scheduled to reopen in May next year after several delays.
The stadium was first mentioned as a candidate for hosting the Race of Champions nearly two years ago,
Great Post LOcool
-
I am very seriously considering attending this event.
-
Eurosport televises it each year. That's how I get to see it.
Always excellent value.
-
I am very seriously considering attending this event.
]
If you are considering, I recommend going for it before it gets sold out. The event always seems great fun on TV.
-
I've been going through old posts, have peoples opinions changed?