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[cap-dude]

I think we need to divert away from this spy scandal now, and look at somthing else.

I'm not sure how many people will remeber Jacque, i know i don't.
But i do my research on F1, and Villenneuve did create quite a stir when he started, nearly beating Hill in first year, and taking the WDC in his 2nd. So i'm sure some people thought he would preform well in the future.

Now Lewis could be about to end up in a famaliar position. Not win this year, and win next year. But say that one day he moved seat, or Mclaren dropped to the back. Do you think it could be JV all over again, or have you an opinion

[racechick]

I dont think so. I watched Jacques in his first year,watched him live at Siverstone. His first race showed promise against Hill but he didnt create the excitement , that feeling that 'here is something special' that you get watching Lewis.

[texasmr2]

I dont think so. I watched Jacques in his first year,watched him live at Siverstone. His first race showed promise against Hill but he didnt create the excitement , that feeling that 'here is something special' that you get watching Lewis.

I agree.

[certom]

well, JV won the indy 500 in 95 and in 96 lost the championship at the last race, if this is nothing special, so what is it? JV found the best car with the best engine, since 98 the williams wasn't supported by the renault engine, and everyhing went wrong...since 99, it started the hell for him, the worst choice of him career..
LH is being supported by mclaren for 10 years, they won't let he go away so easly

[McLaren Fan]

I dont think so. I watched Jacques in his first year,watched him live at Siverstone. His first race showed promise against Hill but he didnt create the excitement , that feeling that 'here is something special' that you get watching Lewis.

Hamilton is British, so, as usual, the British papers go crazy and over-exaggerate the true potential of people. I am not saying that is the case with Hamilton, he's worthy of praise and certainly a star for the future, but because he is British and you're living in Britain, it's all you are going to hear about.

[texasmr2]

Jacques was great and he had my full support when he was in F1. He seem'd to hit a downturn and left William's but having watched how Frank W. work's since the early '80's I knew he was doomed. We all know the Drivers Championship is secondary to the Constructor's Chanpionship for Frank which has led him to change driver's more frequently than necessary IMHO.

The car control and maturity I have witnesses from Lewis lead's me to think I finally might have a driver that I can support 100% since Michael left. I'm sorry but I am a Ferrari supporter until death and I want to see Lewis in a Ferrari at some point.

My summary is both driver's showed true talent then and now but Lewis I believe will go farther and accomplish more than Jacques did in his F1 career.

Gregg

[nikon133]

I dont think so. I watched Jacques in his first year,watched him live at Siverstone. His first race showed promise against Hill but he didnt create the excitement , that feeling that 'here is something special' that you get watching Lewis.

I agree.

I... don't.

As it seems now, big part of LH initial success might have been having setup info from FA (who did say a few months ago that racing LH is like racing your own clone); and luckily for LH, he was flexible enough or just lucky to be compatible with FA driving style, so FA's setups worked for him just fine.

If that was a reason for LH's competitiveness straight from day one - and also reason for his downform nowadays (as we know FA is not sharing his setups any more), then I don't see LH that... special. Well, I'm also not an Englishman, so there's that as well.

Now... I'm not bashing LH, he's great kid, and with experience he might become untouchable. But might not as well - time will tell. And a bit off the topic - I really don't think RD did him a favour by giving him FA's setups. He is young, forming driver and should learn from start that reward comes with loads of hard work, not just talent. And - a bit off the topic - I can agree with FA about that (if nothing else)... if drivers within the team are supposed to compete, sharing setup data is nuts. You want to beat your competition, not help them beat you.

[racechick]

I dont think so. I watched Jacques in his first year,watched him live at Siverstone. His first race showed promise against Hill but he didnt create the excitement , that feeling that 'here is something special' that you get watching Lewis.

I agree.

I... don't.

As it seems now, big part of LH initial success might have been having setup info from FA (who did say a few months ago that racing LH is like racing your own clone); and luckily for LH, he was flexible enough or just lucky to be compatible with FA driving style, so FA's setups worked for him just fine.

If that was a reason for LH's competitiveness straight from day one - and also reason for his
downform nowadays (as we know FA is not sharing his setups any more), then I don't see LH that... special. Well, I'm also not an Englishman, so there's that as well.

Now... I'm not bashing LH, he's great kid, and with experience he might become untouchable. But might not as well - time will tell. And a bit off the topic - I really don't think RD did him a favour by giving him FA's setups. He is young, forming driver and should learn from start that reward comes with loads of hard work, not just talent. And - a bit off the topic - I can agree with FA about that (if nothing else)... if drivers within the team are supposed to compete, sharing setup data is nuts. You want to beat your competition, not help them beat you.

But their styles arent compatible, Lewis likes a much looser rear end and he got the supersofts working before Alonso did. Ok there is a questionmark at present about setting up an F1 car. He certainly can set cars up, he has done so in previous formulae and has been groomed on the engineering side, but he has had less than a year to transfer this knowledge to F1 cars, perhaps when that final piece of the jigsaw clicks into place he will be awsome indeed!
He is a Rookie at this level, Jacques came as a champion at a similar standard of racing and yet in thir first year I still say Lewis looks the way better driver. Now if you talk about Jacques' father......That is another story, he was special indeed!!!!!!
Lewis' Britishnes adds a nice dimension but it is not why I like to watch him. Ive kept an eye on him since watching a programme years ago when he was in carts and i become completely hooked watching him inF2. Ive supported Montoya and I like Webber. Never been a fan of Coulthard(quite the opposite ) and though I like Button to do well he doesnt push my buttons(I think hes very good-just doesnt do it for me)Im female, cant always be objective about these things

[headless]

Maybe Hamilton is something special maybe not.

but as the mclaren guy wrote the british media get erect when they see some one this good. so they are making a meal of it.

[madbrad]

Alonso suffered a sudden dive into Bridgestone tires whereas Hamilton was bred on McLaren. On paper anyway it makes Alonso appear ahead of Hamilton when you consider this handicap.

[darwin dali]

Last time I checked McLaren was Michelin-shod until Michelin withdrew. So, how does this give an advantage to LH vs. poor FA having to 'suddenly' switch to Bridgestone? LH had to switch the same way...
The only advantage LH had was the fact he was groomed and brought up within the franchise and thus knows people, the way they work and some of the technical stuff. Compare this advantage to FA's huge advantage of being the much more experienced driver (two time champ) and knowing all the tracks from multiple experience.

Sure, FA should have bagged the little rookie a while ago and he didn't - looks pretty bad and embarrassing. He might still pull it off by the end of the season - we'll find out soon - but the embarrassment will stay, let alone the tainted picture from the spy saga.

[Irv the Swerve]

Last time I checked McLaren was Michelin-shod until Michelin withdrew. So, how does this give an advantage to LH vs. poor FA having to 'suddenly' switch to Bridgestone? LH had to switch the same way...

Alonso had been using Michelin tyres from Renault, LH had no basis to work from. It may have taken him a while to get into to it and LH can jump in head first.

[darwin dali]

Ok.

[cap-dude]

Come on. Nevermind the tyres, Lewis had an entire new car to learn. Alonso was much more used to drving F1 cars.
Lewis is a great driver, but with all great stories, comes great doubts. He is simply a brilliant driver, but there will always be someone to say otherwise

[nikon133]

I dont think so. I watched Jacques in his first year,watched him live at Siverstone. His first race showed promise against Hill but he didnt create the excitement , that feeling that 'here is something special' that you get watching Lewis.

I agree.

I... don't.

As it seems now, big part of LH initial success might have been having setup info from FA (who did say a few months ago that racing LH is like racing your own clone); and luckily for LH, he was flexible enough or just lucky to be compatible with FA driving style, so FA's setups worked for him just fine.

If that was a reason for LH's competitiveness straight from day one - and also reason for his
downform nowadays (as we know FA is not sharing his setups any more), then I don't see LH that... special. Well, I'm also not an Englishman, so there's that as well.

Now... I'm not bashing LH, he's great kid, and with experience he might become untouchable. But might not as well - time will tell. And a bit off the topic - I really don't think RD did him a favour by giving him FA's setups. He is young, forming driver and should learn from start that reward comes with loads of hard work, not just talent. And - a bit off the topic - I can agree with FA about that (if nothing else)... if drivers within the team are supposed to compete, sharing setup data is nuts. You want to beat your competition, not help them beat you.

But their styles arent compatible, Lewis likes a much looser rear end and he got the supersofts working before Alonso did. Ok there is a questionmark at present about setting up an F1 car. He certainly can set cars up, he has done so in previous formulae and has been groomed on the engineering side, but he has had less than a year to transfer this knowledge to F1 cars, perhaps when that final piece of the jigsaw clicks into place he will be awsome indeed!
He is a Rookie at this level, Jacques came as a champion at a similar standard of racing and yet in thir first year I still say Lewis looks the way better driver. Now if you talk about Jacques' father......That is another story, he was special indeed!!!!!!
Lewis' Britishnes adds a nice dimension but it is not why I like to watch him. Ive kept an eye on him since watching a programme years ago when he was in carts and i become completely hooked watching him inF2. Ive supported Montoya and I like Webber. Never been a fan of Coulthard(quite the opposite ) and though I like Button to do well he doesnt push my buttons(I think hes very good-just doesnt do it for me)Im female, cant always be objective about these things

well, being a lady, I guess one might look at drivers in a different way... than a bloke, that is

That being said... after a years of watching mediocree JV performance, it is hard to see him as we might have when he just started. I, for fact, do remember that I was very entusiastic after his first few races (as well as first season, that is). I can't say that I was more, er, "hot" for LH than I was for JV, but hey, it's only me.

As I said, I like him and think he is great rookie, and has all it takes to become great driver and returning champion... but so do some other young drivers, given good car and good team to support them. All in all, I just don't see LH good like... one in a million good. One in a century good. Whatever.

But I might be dead wrong...