[Driver] Lewis Hamilton is the best driver in F1. Discuss

[Super Hans]

Whingeing about your car may cause cancer.

[strider]

But constructive criticism is medically safe.

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Well we had it as recently as 2007 at McLaren so I don't think it is that unlikely.

But even then, it was reigned in, and there was also quite a bit of sloppy driving. I'd say neither Alonso nor Hamilton were at their peak.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by ptclaus98

But even then, it was reigned in, and there was also quite a bit of sloppy driving. I'd say neither Alonso nor Hamilton were at their peak.

That's not the point really though. The team had 2 aces in the cars and they were left to fight it out, most of the time.....

It is extremely rare that we get two out and out top liners driving for the same team at the same time these days.

Hamilton and Button fit the bill, but not many thought Button was a top liner a few years back?

McLaren thought they had the de-facto top guns in 2005/06, so did a lot of people. But as it turned out either they didn't or they spectacularly mis-managed them as they did in 2007!

Whatever the case, we're not seing the same nonsense from their drivers this year!

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by chunterer

That's not the point really though. The team had 2 aces in the cars and they were left to fight it out, most of the time.....

It is extremely rare that we get two out and out top liners driving for the same team at the same time these days.

Hamilton and Button fit the bill, but not many thought Button was a top liner a few years back?

McLaren thought they had the de-facto top guns in 2005/06, so did a lot of people. But as it turned out either they didn't or they spectacularly mis-managed them as they did in 2007!

Whatever the case, we're not seing the same nonsense from their drivers this year!

I actually wonder how much of that is due to the influence of the person who is now managing the team.....

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by ptclaus98

But even then, it was reigned in, and there was also quite a bit of sloppy driving. I'd say neither Alonso nor Hamilton were at their peak.

Didn't look very reigned in to me!

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Didn't look very reigned in to me!

The two of them exchanging fastest laps at Monaco, particularly going passed the swimming pool area, definitely did not look "reigned in" to me either!

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by chunterer

McLaren thought they had the de-facto top guns in 2005/06, so did a lot of people. But as it turned out either they didn't or they spectacularly mis-managed them as they did in 2007!

Whatever the case, we're not seing the same nonsense from their drivers this year!

In the case of 2007, ultimately because Jenson is not as quick as Fernando, so usually doesn't get as close to Lewis.

[wnut]

2007 imo was jus spectacular mismanagement, McLaren completely dominant and a Ferrrari WDC - brilliant, just brilliant.

Text book reason for team orders - much as I hate the idea!

[Born Racer]

A similar situation going on with Red Bull?

Hamilton and Alonso seem a league ahead of the rest to me.

[pannenmann]

Originally Posted by garcon

This is what people seem to forget. With the exception of a few outside the sport, e.g. Sebastian Loeb (who I believe is outright the best driver currently competing in motorsport), and a few pay drivers at the back of the grid, F1 drivers are the 20 or so very best drivers in the world. Splitting them is splitting the truly special from the merely very, very good.

And occasionally, as was the case with Senna and Prost, we get the joy of two truly special drivers competing with each other.

As the thread is already quite OT, I might as well ask:
How do you rate hillclimb racers? They seem to be extremely fast, driving also rather sophosticated cars at times and doing that under conditions that demand a lot from a driver. And they pull it off on a constant basis without dying. I can't really decide whether they're extremely good racers or suicidal lunatics.

[garcon]

Originally Posted by pannenmann

As the thread is already quite OT, I might as well ask:
How do you rate hillclimb racers? They seem to be extremely fast, driving also rather sophosticated cars at times and doing that under conditions that demand a lot from a driver. And they pull it off on a constant basis without dying. I can't really decide whether they're extremely good racers or suicidal lunatics.

Have to admit I'm no expert on hillclimbing, but to go up the hills they do in the cars they do I reckon they're probably all suicidal lunatics...

[ljakse]

Originally Posted by garcon

Have to admit I'm no expert on hillclimbing, but to go up the hills they do in the cars they do I reckon they're probably all suicidal lunatics...

I still remember seeing this first time.
Yes they are

[Marbot]

But as we saw yesterday, being the 'fastest' driver doesn't necessarily mean that you will finish first. So best isn't just about being the 'fastest', otherwise why not just give all the points to pole position. No driver in the top 5 or 6 seems, overall, to be a league ahead to me.

And yes, there are far, far braver drivers and riders out there than you will ever see driving an F1 car, but F1 isn't about being the 'bravest' either.

[Knowlesy]

Being the best is about maximising your situations, which Hamilton has done way above anyone else this year. Barring two mechanical failures he'd be well clear, quite an achievement in that McLaren.

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Being the best is about maximising your situations.

Which puts Seb Vettel some way clear of the best.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Being the best is about maximising your situations,

Overtaking a safety car being one of them.

[Knowlesy]

Right.

What?

[Marbot]

Just saying.

But all of these things even out in the end don't they.

[ralf fan]

Yeah

[HughGJohnson]

Originally Posted by ljakse

I still remember seeing this first time.
Yes they are

...wow...really wow! I don't know if that's the coolest thing I've ever seen, but it can't be far off...

...same goes for Lewis. If he isn't the best he's right there.

PS If anyone needs me I'll be in the suicidal maniac/mountian climbing forum

PPS I know no one will need me--save it.

[sparkione]

[QUOTE=BootsOntheSide;2725985] Jenson's excellent pit call in Australia and Lewis' late failure in Spain have kept them close on points, but Lewis is clearly the superior driver. He's beaten Jenson in four successive fair fights.

That is down largely to Button's inferior qualifying. It's becoming a truism, but Jense doesn't have LH's ability to wrestle a less than perfect car into submission, and pull out that one banzai Q3 lap. When the car's to JB's liking, there isn't a fag paper between them on race pace. I just hope we get some races where Jense qualifies alongside -- or even in front of -- Lewis, and we see them race toe to toe.

[Schumiforeverever]

Sorry but Hamilton is just someone who drives F1 cars of the 2000' ,if you undestand what i mean.

I'd be curious to see Hamilton driving a Virgin racing.

[mattt]

Originally Posted by Schumiforeverever

Sorry but Hamilton is just someone who drives F1 cars of the 2000' ,if you undestand what i mean....

Nope, please explain

[ralf fan]

Originally Posted by Schumiforeverever

I'd be curious to see Hamilton driving a Virgin racing.

Wait what?