FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[texasmr2]

For the top high scoring teams does the amount of money a driver brings to the team not depend more on race wins/points as well as their status in the public eye and positive media attention due to performance more than anything else?

Or is there something else I'm missing?

Sad to say but it is now based mostly on how much a driver can personely or sponsor wise bring to the team although skill is still a major factor but is second to the almighty dollar. Hamilton has been under Ron's wing for 10yr's and as luck would have it Ron brought him in when they have one of the two best car's of the season. It's not rocket science to know that without having one of the best car's on the grid Hamilton's success would be nowhere near what has been.

I'm by no mean's taking anything away from Hamilton but we should all realize this by now.

[pit_babe]

In 2006 Fernando Alonso beat Michael Schumacher, Formula 1's greatest driver on record. In 2007, Lewis Hamilton is currently beating Fernando Alonso in what we assume is an identical piece of machinery.

How can he not be a worthy champion?

Well said.

[stonemonkey]

Sad to say but it is now based mostly on how much a driver can personely or sponsor wise bring to the team although skill is still a major factor but is second to the almighty dollar.

The amount that can be made for a top team though performance alone must be large and the better a sportsman performs the more can be gained through sponsorship. If you're no good then you won't get sponsored, although it can be a case of being very good/talented but having bad management or being unlucky but very rarely the other way round and it wouldn't last long if it did.

It's not rocket science to know that without having one of the best car's on the grid Hamilton's success would be nowhere near what has been.

Very true but the same could be said of most top drivers including Schumacher. The big difference is that most others started their F1 careers lower down the grid and while not able to challenge at the front they had a chance to show their abilities in a very different way, Alonso at Minardi being a perfect example.
Even though Hamilton's not had to work his way through the F1 ranks (which is maybe where a lot of the negativity towards him on this forum comes from) he has worked hard to get where he is and has proved himself against the current world champion on the track a few times. Saying any of the drivers could get in a Mclaren and beat Alonso is ridiculous as is saying Lewis is only in the seat to bring in sponsorship money regardless of his performance.

[texasmr2]

I tend not to delve into the "Psychosomatic" only in the driver's skill's. I say please review more F1 history because Michael's win at Spa in the '92 Belgium GP was against the like's of McLaren and Ferrari in a Jordan no less!

I take nothing away from Hamilton as I recognize his skill, I read people very well , anyway he is the "real deal" and I believe will be a deserving champion one day.

[Irv the Swerve]

I say please review more F1 history because Michael's win at Spa in the '92 Belgium GP was against the like's of McLaren and Ferrari in a Jordan no less!

He drove for Jordan at Spa in '91 but his first of many race wins was with the Benetton squad.

So take your own advice.

[stonemonkey]

If you want to look at history, look at other wet races too where the results are often less dependant on the car and more emphasis is placed on driver skill which is something schumacher had in abundance.

I agree with what you're saying about drivers being taken on by teams for what they can bring to the team other than their ability to drive but only for teams with less media exposure or are less likely to score points than the top few, IMO the top teams can make more from a driver that performs right at the top level because they score points (which are worth a lot to the team) and their worth through sponsorship with the right management and sporting achievements can go through the roof.

[texasmr2]

I say please review more F1 history because Michael's win at Spa in the '92 Belgium GP was against the like's of McLaren and Ferrari in a Jordan no less!

He drove for Jordan at Spa in '91 but his first of many race wins was with the Benetton squad.

So take your own advice.

I stand corrected and I apologize for posting bad info LOL!

I fullheartedly believe that the driver's skill's are the most important it just seem's as of lately that F1 has been taking that stance. Thank's for setting me straight I appreciate it.

[KyrosV]

so webber now blames hamilton, and so I was right. he was driving unsportsman-like and breaking rules

[peacehats]

Condition raining heavily, Mark to close to Lewis car the rules book states in these conditions the car behind the leader should have been 5 car Length away from the leader of the race Mark Webber, was no where near 5 Length.

[KyrosV]

can you help it if the car in front (i.e Hamilton) was slowing down fast in front of you?

[Ruby]

within 5 car lengths, not at least.

[KyrosV]

Actually that rule is "the lead car has to be within 5 car lengths of the safety car" the other cars have to line up behind.

[McLaren Fan]

From the TV it looked as though Hamilton ran wide (perhaps due to conditions?) and got too close to safety car. Webber then braked to avoid overtaking him and, finally, Vettel ran into the back of Webber. A racing incident, as the footage proves. This is a move by the FIA to have an exciting, title decider in Brazil.

[Lewis Hamilton - COME ON!]

Yeah...i didnt see the problem, but it looked like it was driver error, not on purpose!

[pit_babe]

From the TV it looked as though Hamilton ran wide (perhaps due to conditions?) and got too close to safety car. Webber then braked to avoid overtaking him and, finally, Vettel ran into the back of Webber. A racing incident, as the footage proves. This is a move by the FIA to have an exciting, title decider in Brazil.

Or to make sure Kimi wins it.